-With Memorial Events, Mausoleum Dedication
By G. Bennie Bravo Johnson & Vaye Abel Lepolu
Monrovia, Liberia – The Government of Liberia, in partnership with the April 22 Memorial Group, recently launched a national week of remembrance and reflection in honor of the late President Rev. Dr. William R. Tolbert Jr., Liberia’s 20th President, whose life and leadership were tragically ended by a coup d’état on April 12, 1980.
The commemorative events include a memorial service and the dedication of a mausoleum and remembrance park at the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary in Paynesville. Born in Bentol City in 1913, William R. Tolbert Jr. rose from humble beginnings to become one of Liberia’s most visionary leaders. He served as Vice President for 19 years under President William V. S. Tubman before assuming the presidency in 1971. His administration prioritized economic modernization, poverty alleviation, public sector reform, and regional cooperation.
During his presidency, Tolbert championed educational access, healthcare reform, and agricultural mechanization. He was instrumental in founding key institutions like the National Bank of Liberia and supported the creation of the Mano River Union and ECOWAS. His government also launched initiatives such as “Total Involvement for Higher Heights,” aimed at national unity and grassroots development.
President Tolbert was also a prominent international religious leader, serving as the first African President of the Baptist World Alliance and leading the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention for over two decades.
In a solemn mood to honor the life and legacy of the late President, Jr., President Joseph Nyumah Boakai described the national memorial as “a moment to restore dignity” to the memory of a man once violently overthrown and brutally silenced. President Boakai during the memorial service asserted that the memorial is far more than a ceremonial gathering—it was a historic reckoning, an opportunity to right moral wrongs and reaffirm Liberia’s journey toward reconciliation and unity.
“We assemble here in solemn remembrance to honor the life and legacy of a statesman, a patriot, and a servant of the people of Liberia whose story is deeply connected to the history of our republic.” President Boakai averred that President Tolbert, the 20th President of Liberia and former Chair of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), is remembered not just for his position but for his principles—his Pan-African vision, belief in youth empowerment, and his efforts to promote justice, inclusion, and economic reform. “He brought to the presidency a sense of moral clarity and a deep commitment to building a nation where all Liberians could find dignity in their citizenship,” President Boakai stated.
The President in his tribute, acknowledged Liberia’s troubled past—from unhealed divisions and violent takeovers to the devastating civil conflict that claimed nearly 250,000 lives. Against this backdrop, President Boakai challenged the nation to turn its sorrow into strength and to view the memorial not as the closing of a chapter, but as a renewal of national purpose. “This is a moment to restore dignity, to acknowledge historical wrongs, and to reaffirm our collective commitment to truth, justice, and reconciliation,” he declared.
Historical Analysis of April 12, 1980, in Liberia
April 12, 1980, marks a defining and turbulent turning point in Liberian history, as Master Sergeant Samuel K. Doe led 17 enlisted men of the Armed Forces of Liberia in a bloody military coup that overthrew the government of President William R. Tolbert, Jr. The coup ended 133 years of Americo-Liberian dominance and ushered in the country’s first indigenous-led regime. President Tolbert was assassinated in the Executive Mansion in the early hours of the coup, plunging the nation into shock and igniting a new era of political instability.
In the days that followed, the People’s Redemption Council (PRC), led by Doe, assumed power, suspended the Constitution, and banned political activity. The PRC justified the coup as a rebellion against inequality, corruption, and the marginalization of indigenous Liberians. However, what began as a populist movement soon descended into authoritarian rule, characterized by repression, human rights violations, and internal purges.
On April 22, 1980—just ten days after the coup—the new regime carried out one of the most chilling spectacles in Liberian history. Thirteen senior officials of the Tolbert administration were executed by firing squad on South Beach in Monrovia, following swift and controversial military trials. Those executed were: Frank E. Tolbert (President Pro Tempore of the Senate and brother of the late President), E. Reginald Townsend (Chairman of the True Whig Party), C.C. Dennis (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Richard A. Henries (Speaker of the House of Representatives), James T. Phillips (Minister of Finance), Joseph J.F. Chesson, Sr. (Minister of Justice), Cyril Bright (Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs), Charles T.O. King (Deputy Minister for Agriculture), David Franklin Neal, Sr. (Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs), and others. Their deaths shocked the nation and the international community, cementing April 1980 as a symbol of brutal political rupture.
The events of April 12 and 22 set the stage for years of authoritarian rule and national unrest, planting seeds of mistrust and division that contributed to Liberia’s eventual descent into civil war. The legacy of those days remains controversial—viewed by some as a necessary rebellion against oligarchic control, and by others as the beginning of Liberia’s darkest chapter. Today, these events are remembered with a mix of grief, reflection, and a call for reconciliation and historical clarity.
The April 22 Memorial Group, made up of descendants and relatives of those executed, delivered a passionate statement during the memorial events. “They were killed without legal representation, without due process. Their deaths were not only personal losses—they were a stain on the conscience of the nation,” the group declared. The memorial group has constructed a Remembrance Park and Mausoleum and announced plans to build a Research Center and Memorial Library, aimed at promoting historical education, peace, and civic consciousness.
Moreover, the group has recommended the need for April 22nd to be recognized as a National Day of Reflection and Justice. They believe that this would be the full implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommendations. They also stressed the need for the establishment of a national memorial for victims of political violence and civil conflict; psychosocial support for survivors and affected families; and the reintroduction of civics education and reconciliation studies in schools.
The Book of Condolence was opened on Monday, June 30, 2025, at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion, while the memorial service and site dedication were held on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Speaking at the event, Cllr. Dr. Yvette Chesson-Gibson emphasized: “True reconciliation begins with truth, continues through justice, and grows in forgiveness and unity.”
The events were attended by members of the Legislature, former and current high-ranking officials, the clergy, diplomats, the Tolbert family, and citizens from across the country. Pundits say it marked a moment of national reflection, unity, and reconciliation.
