Boakai Signs Book of Condolence in Honor of Murdered Liberian President Samuel Doe

The President of Liberia, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, signed the Book of Condolence in honor of the murdered former Liberian President Samuel Kanyon Doe.

Mr. Doe was killed by the late Liberian warlord, Prince Johnson in September 1990 during the height of Liberia’s civil conflict.

The solemn ceremony was held at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion in Monrovia, where the nation began the process of honoring and reburying former heads of state who passed under tragic or extraordinary circumstances.

President Boakai, accompanied by senior government officials and members of the Doe family, paid his respects and expressed deep sympathy for the pain and loss endured by the family, the people of Grand Gedeh County, and the entire nation.

Speaking briefly following the signing, President Boakai noted that this act is part of a broader effort at national reconciliation and historical reckoning. He emphasized that acknowledging the past, no matter how painful, is critical to healing and unity.

“Today, we honor the memory of President Samuel Kanyon Doe not only as a former Head of State but as a son of Liberia whose life and leadership, though considered controversial by some, played a significant role in shaping our history,” concluding, “May this gesture serve as a step toward reconciliation, peace, and national cohesion.”

President Doe, who served as Liberia’s 21st President from 1980 to 1990, became the country’s first indigenous leader to ascend to the presidency through a military coup.

His decade-long rule remains one of the most pivotal and debated eras in Liberia’s modern political history.

As Liberia continues to reckon with its past, the Government remains committed to fostering inclusive remembrance, healing historical wounds, righting historic wrongs, calming longstanding acrimony, and promoting unity across all regions and communities.