MONROVIA — The Liberian government has approved a joint burial for former President Samuel K. Doe and his late wife, Nancy B. Doe, in their hometown of Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, following an official visit by President Joseph Boakai to the family.
President Boakai, accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, paid condolences to the Doe family at their residence on 24th Street, Sinkor, on Monday and pledged full government support for a state funeral and coordinated reburial.
The president described the former first lady as a symbol of strength and endurance and instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to lead the process of organizing a dignified homegoing ceremony.
“The president’s visit brought a sense of national unity and comfort,” said Ambassador Isaac Nyenabo, speaking on behalf of the family. “It’s more than a courtesy — it’s a sign of leadership, healing, and a step toward historical closure.”
Nancy B. Doe, who died on May 21, 2025, served as Liberia’s first lady during a pivotal era in the country’s history. Her husband, President Doe, was killed during the civil conflict in 1990 and never received official state honors.
The family has long requested a joint reburial to allow the couple to rest side by side in Zwedru. According to Nyenabo, the government has formally agreed to the request. Final funeral arrangements are underway and expected to be announced in the coming days. The late first lady’s remains are scheduled to be transported to Grand Gedeh on June 27, with burial planned for June 28.
President Boakai’s decision aligns with his administration’s broader effort to confront Liberia’s painful past and foster reconciliation. The plan includes the formal reburial of former Presidents William R. Tolbert Jr. and Samuel K. Doe, both of whom died under violent circumstances and were never accorded national recognition.
The National Committee on Reburials and Reconciliation, chaired by Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah, has been tasked with organizing state funerals and developing memorial frameworks to honor former leaders who died during Liberia’s periods of conflict.
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