Liberia Holds State Funeral for President Tolbert, Cabinet 45 Years After Coup

Liberia held a symbolic reburial ceremony for former President William Tolbert and 13 members of his cabinet, 45 years after they were executed following a 1980 coup led by Samuel Doe. Despite their bodies never being recovered, the state funeral, attended by current President Joseph Boakai, served as an act of national reflection and reconciliation for the country's violent past. Tolbert's overthrow ended over a century of political dominance by the Americo-Liberians, triggering years of political unrest and two brutal civil wars. The reburial represents a beginning of closure for the families of the victims and the nation, emphasizing that reconciliation is a long-term process rather than a single event. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, established in 2006, has been instrumental in addressing Liberia's history of conflict and seeking restitution for victims. Families of the executed received Liberian flags in honor of their public service, underscoring the ceremony's purpose to heal and remember with respect and purpose.