President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, ahead of an array of officials and dignitaries, on July 1, 2025, led a historic reburial dedication of April 22 Memorial Park at the Baptist Theological Seminary, outside Monrovia.
On February 25, 2025, the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary (LBTS) and the April 22 memorial group signed a pivotal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU); dedicating two lots on the seminary grounds as a burial site for former President William R. Tolbert, Jr. and his 13 cabinet ministers executed on April 22, 1980, 10 days after the coup.
The agreement, hailed as “more than a document, is a testament to our collective desire for genuine reconciliation and healing after 45 years of grief.” It marks a major milestone in the country’s journey to its closure.
The Memorial Park, complete with a mausoleum and research facilities, serves both as a place of reflection and a symbol of national reconciliation; ensuring that the stories of the past continue to inform and unite future generation.
The Park is an initiative aimed at triggering national healing and reconciliation of Tolbert and officials who were brutally killed in the aftermath of the country’s coup d’état, which marked the country’s “dark history.”
During the period under review, 1980 and 1990, are the two distinct periods in which Liberians witnessed the brutal killings of its leaders.
Over 45 years ago, Tolbert and 13 of his officials were killed, while over 20 years ago, Doe was captured by faction of rebel forces and killed.
Tuesday’s ceremony was held in honored of their legacies, which are monumental steps that will foster national healing; a sober reflection for reconciliation.