President killed in Liberian coup to be reburied in own grave
Ten days after the president's killing, following trials by a kangaroo court, 13 of his cabinet were stripped, tied to stakes and then executed by a firing squad on a beach next to an army barracks in the capital, Monrovia.
None of the 14 corpses has been found but each man is due to get a state funeral at a ceremony attended by President Joseph Boakai and other dignitaries.
The event is seen as an act of reconciliation and part of a process of the country coming to terms with its violent recent past.
The 12 April 1980 coup in which 28-year-old Sgt Samuel Doe took power ended well over a century of political dominance by the minority Americo-Liberians, the descendants of freed black slaves who had come from the US in the 1800s.
Tolbert's nine-year presidency was marked by growing dissatisfaction with the ethnic inequalities.
His overthrow came at the start of a period of instability in Liberia, culminating in two devastating civil wars, that finally ended in 2003.
Doe himself met a violent death at the hands of rebels in 1990. His reburial in his home town last week was also ordered by the president.
"This is not just a burial; it is a moment of national reflection, a time to reconcile with our history, to heal from our wounds, and to remember with respect and purpose," Boakai said at Doe's funeral.
For the families of those executed in 1980, Tuesday's ceremony is both an act of remembrance and a way of bringing some respect to those who died.
"It has been 45 years and the pain is still fresh," prominent lawyer Yvette Chesson-Gibson, daughter of executed Justice Minister Joseph Chesson, told the BBC.
She emphasised that Tuesday's reburials will be the start of a long-term process.
"This is not just a ceremony, it is the beginning of a closure. Reconciliation is not an event," she said.
"There are many facets to healing, but for us primarily this is just one of the many ways we continue to pay homage to deserving Liberian fallen heroes," Bindu Dennis, the daughter of Tolbert's Foreign Minister Charles Cecil Dennis, said.
"Our fathers were simply murdered in one of the world's most despicable and inhumane public acts of brutality, violence and cruelty born out of an ugly spirit of greed for political power.
"As long as you understand that closure doesn't mean forgetting, then we're on the same page."
Until now, the 14 people executed in 1980 have been remembered by a tombstone, bearing all their names, where former presidents have paid their respects each year.
However, when this was excavated earlier this year, no human remains were found.
Jarso Maley Jallah, the minister in charge of the reburial programme, told the BBC that "there are some things that have happened in our country that we're not proud of, but yet we are Liberians, and we must come together to advance our nation".
The family of each person killed is set to be presented with a Liberian flag as a mark of their public service and there will also be a 21-gun salute.
A Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was set up in 2006 by former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to gather testimonies about the atrocities committed during the conflicts.
In 2009 the TRC identified a list of people to be prosecuted for war crimes, but no action was taken. No-one has been tried in Liberia but some perpetrators have been convicted in other countries.
Last year Boakai signed an executive order aimed at setting up a special court.
How President Joseph Boakai hopes to rid Liberia of its problems
Top Liberian doctor struck off over qualification doubts
Liberia's war and peace: Lessons from 30 years' reporting
How returning $50,000 changed a taxi driver's life
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Focus on Africa
This Is Africa
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


News24
29 minutes ago
- News24
Hawks raid City Power HQ; Desiree Ellis coy on Banyana future: Today's top 7 stories in 7 minutes
News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day. News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature. Anelisa Khubeka/News24 'Put the heat on black okes': Witness testifies in July unrest Phoenix murder trial - A witness testified that tavern owner Trevor Gopal incited violence against black individuals before the assault on taxi driver Jabulani Dlamini during the July 2021 Phoenix unrest. - Dlamini was allegedly attacked with various weapons and set alight, later dying in the hospital, while four accused face charges including murder and incitement. - The witness, Anard Chetty, described the brutal assault on Dlamini and claimed Gopal instructed that Dlamini and his friends be burnt along with the taxi. Supplied 'She cried with me': How FW de Klerk's widow and Cradock 4 family found reconciliation - Elita de Klerk, widow of FW de Klerk, has been supporting the Cradock 4 families in their quest for truth about the 1985 murders of anti-apartheid activists, despite believing her late husband was not involved. - Elita met with Fort Calata's widow, Nomonde, and family, leading to emotional discussions and a developing friendship despite differing beliefs about De Klerk's role in the killings. - The Calata family appreciates Elita's willingness to engage and listen, viewing her actions as a step towards reconciliation and honoring the sacrifices of the Cradock 4. 9 LIVES: 'Cat' Matlala to face charges for botched hits on taxi boss 'Joe Ferrari', DJ Vettys - Vusimusi 'Cat' Matlala will face charges for botched hits on taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni and DJ Vettys, with ballistic analysis linking seized guns to at least 10 high-profile killings. - Matlala's alleged connections to top cops and politicians, including former Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, led to a judicial commission of inquiry and Mchunu being placed on special leave. - Despite being under investigation for procurement fraud, Matlala's company scored R50 million from a police health services contract, highlighting his access to state procurement. Hawks raid City Power Joburg HQ in R500m corruption investigation - The Hawks raided City Power's headquarters in Johannesburg, investigating alleged fraud and corruption exceeding R500 million. - City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava is the main target of the investigation, which focuses on tender-related graft. - The investigation documents detail alleged price inflation and payments to contractors for incomplete work. Cut civil service by 50%, repeal BEE to grow SA, says Moeletsi Mbeki - Moeletsi Mbeki argues South Africa's economic stagnation stems from prioritising mineral exports with unskilled labour over human capital and innovation. - He proposes halving the public sector to redirect savings into infrastructure and skills development, criticising the current government and BEE for hindering economic growth. - Professor William Gumede suggests replacing the current BEE with initiatives that support small businesses, skills development, and infrastructure projects, while also focusing on merit-based appointments and corruption reduction in key state entities. Desiree Ellis coy about her Banyana future: 'We will sit down to look at a way forward' - Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis was evasive about her future with the team ahead of their WAFCON third-place play-off against Ghana. - The match against Ghana will be Jermaine Seoposenwe's last for Banyana Banyana, marking the end of her international career after over 100 caps. - Ellis emphasised the importance of winning the bronze medal for Seoposenwe and injured Gabriela Salgado, while also highlighting the need for younger players to step up and take on leadership roles. Oupa Bopape/Gallo Images 'South Africans will resonate with this movie': Anele Mdoda's high hopes for Embeth Davidtz-directed film - 'Don't Let's Go to The Dogs Tonight,' a film executive produced by Anele Mdoda, Trevor Noah, and Frankie du Toit, premiered after its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on 30 August 2024. - The film, directed by Embeth Davidtz and based on Alexandra Fuller's memoir, explores a child's coming-of-age during the Rhodesian Bush War, with themes of war, family, and racial dynamics. - Anele Mdoda emphasises the film's resonance with South Africans and encourages artists to own their intellectual property and create their own stories for a global audience. Show Comments ()
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
West Africa's security woes no longer France's concern, minister says
By Tim Cocks JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -The insecurity plaguing West Africa is no longer France's concern, its state minister for ties with Francophone countries and international partnerships said on Friday, a week after Paris handed over control of its last major military base in the region. Thani Mohamed-Soilihi was speaking to journalists in a phone briefing in South Africa, where he was attending the Group of 20 top economies' week of discussions on global development. "I'm sorry to say, but it no longer concerns us," Mohamed-Soilihi said, in answer to a Reuters question about the risk of insecurity posed by France's military absence. "That's a shame, because everyone can see the difference between (now and then)," he added. "But we are looking for other ways to maintain ties (that are) not necessarily military." In the past three years, France has gradually dismantled its once-substantial military presence in its African ex-colonies, where for decades it had beaten back jihadist militants, arrested armed criminals, rescued several presidents from armed rebellions - and, in earlier times, backed coups itself. Since 2022, France has pulled its soldiers out of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, after military coups brought in leaders hostile to the French presence. Chad - a linchpin of the West's war against jihadists in the Sahel - abruptly ended its security cooperation pact with its former colonial master in November. More than a decade of insurgencies in the Sahel have displaced millions and engendered economic collapse, with violence pushing further south towards West Africa's coast. The last two months have seen a surge in jihadist attacks, making them one of the deadliest periods of the Sahel's history. "We continue to deal with countries that so wish," Mohamed-Soilihi said. "But ... France won't be able to respond to the security problems of countries with which there is no longer a relationship." Solve the daily Crossword


News24
5 hours ago
- News24
DR Congo: Little hope for robust truce with M23 rebel group
The US, UN and the African Union (AU) were among the first to welcome the 19 July truce between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group which had been championed by the US and Qatar. The Doha Declaration of Principles, building on a peace deal Congo and Rwanda signed in Washington on 27 June, was meant to serve as another 'meaningful step toward advancing lasting peace and stability in the Great Lakes region', according to the US Department of State. Rwanda's willingness to sign, and its passive observation of, the Doha agreement was seen as tacit admittance to its role in the long-standing conflict, although Kigali continues to deny its support of the M23. Is the DRC a no-go zone? Just one day after the signing in Doha, the US updated its security advisory for the DRC and especially its capital, Kinshasa, advising US nationals in the country to 'exercise increased awareness, avoid large gatherings, and monitor local news and security updates'. READ | Peace deal with Rwanda opens way to 'new era', says DR Congo president The list of recommended actions include the provision of 'enough food and water should you need to stay home for several days' and having 'essential items (clothing, medications, travel documents) packed in a bag that you can carry'. Amani Alimasi/AFP The advisory resembles the kind of advice US authorities issue residents to prepare for major natural disasters. Reagan Miviri, a conflict analyst and lawyer working with the Congo Research Group in Kinshasa - an independent, nonprofit research project - understands the importance of the US State Department's latest travel advisory. 'The crisis in eastern Congo is also visible in Kinshasa in some ways,' she told DW. 'Actors in the US [who] are worried about what could happen in Kinshasa … probably know much more than we do, so perhaps they have other information we don't have.' According to Lidewyde Berckmoes, an associate professor and senior researcher at the African Studies Centre Leiden in the Netherlands, many parts of the DRC still actively remain under the control of the M23, which is unlikely to change despite this deal. Camille Laffont/AFP 'This region has seen many violent rebel movements, who have been there since the 1990s. There are many places where there's a lot of tension, and where authority is contested,' Berckmoes, whose work is focused on Africa's Great Lakes region, told DW. M23 expansion course continues On the ground, the reality of a state of war effectively continues to dictate daily lives in various parts of the country - especially eastern DRC's North and South Kivu provinces. Mere days after the DRC-M23 truce was signed, fresh reports of M23 rebels seizing new ground surfaced. According to UN-backed Radio Okapi in the DRC, at least 19 civilians were killed by M23 fighters as part of that expansion, in particular around the village of Bukera. This latest escalation is in clear breach of the Doha ceasefire deal, which calls on all sides in the conflict to stop efforts to expand their territorial gains - among various other stipulations. A truce with an ambiguous message Human rights activist Philemon Ruzinge believes the Doha deal will ultimately be of little consequence, despite whatever concessions Kinshasa may make to keep the peace. 'The agreement of principles is supposed to be … so important toward a lasting peace agreement,' he told DW, adding that the ongoing actions of M23 rebels leave little hope for it to work in the long run. HughAccording to Ruzinge, M23 leaders feel they can continue to enjoy free reign over northeastern DRC on account of the text of the agreement 'containing no withdrawal clause' and deliberately being worded in an ambiguous manner. This view was only further solidified by the M23 itself, whose delegation leader at the signing in Doha, Benjamin Mbonimpa, reiterated that the group 'will not retreat, not even by one metre'. 'We will stay where we are,' Mbonimpa said. Rebels trying to leverage political control Researcher Berckmoes believes Mbonimpa's attitude is indicative of the overall M23 position. 'I don't think M23 will let themselves be sidelined. Rather, I expect that they are looking for ways to have an important say as part of the government.' Conflict analyst Miviri agrees, pointing out that 'M23 are saying that they are not leaving.' She added that this should be taken at face value. M23 will do whatever it pleases. Reagan Miviri That view is also shared by people in North Kivu province. Complaints by civil society groups about a lack of government intervention are mounting. In the province's beleaguered capital, Goma, democracy activist Justin Murutsi told DW: 'The state has a security mandate for the population. But when there are killings like this and no word from the state, it shows that there's a serious institutional vacuum.' 'The signing of the Declaration of Principles gives us a little hope, because it clearly shows that the government has accepted the rebels' demands and conditions,' said Julien, a resident of the city who believes M23 will remain in control of large parts of the region. Scepticism seems to outweigh hope Political scientist Christian Moleka in Kinshasa wonders whether the parties the conflict are interested in peace. 'Do the various parties even have the will to achieve lasting peace?' he told DW. 'Are the follow-up mechanisms really going to work better than in the past, to support the full implementation of these various provisions?' Berckmoes had similar reservations, stressing there has been 'series of agreements in the past, which have not been upheld'. HughShe added that for a sustainable peace plan to succeed, various parties and factions all have to be included in all negotiations - not just M23 but 'all 160 groups' vying for control. To that end, Berckmoes believes 'there's still a long way to go.' Miviri took an even more sober stance: 'Before speaking of a lasting peace agreement, it just has to first happen. And I'm not seeing it happen, even now.' Amid scepticism, criticism and the surge in violence since the Doha signing, there have also been a few hopeful voices - among them, the US senior adviser for Africa, Massad Boulos. According to Congolese Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani, significant progress has been made in recent weeks. He said he was convinced that, despite the ongoing volatile nature of the conflict, 'we are close to peace.' In the same statement, however, he stressed that 'peace is a choice,' which 'requires work'.