The remains of former President William R. Tolbert, alongside the 13 senior officials from his government, were exhumed from their grave on Tuesday afternoon, February 18, 2025.
The exhumation took place at Palm Grove Cemetery on Center Street, where the bodies of Tolbert and the other officials have rested for nearly 50 years.
Tolbert, who served as Liberia’s President from 1971 until his assassination in 1980, was buried in the cemetery after he was allegedly killed under mysterious circumstances.
At the time of his death, Tolbert was 67 years old, and it was officially attributed to the actions of then-president Samuel Doe and members of the People’s Redemption Council.
The decision to exhume the remains of Tolbert and his colleagues has sparked an intense national debate.
Many Liberians are voicing their disapproval, with a strong backlash from the late president’s family, friends, and supporters, who have condemned the act as disrespectful to his memory and legacy.
The exhumation has rekindled painful emotions for those who remember the tragic end of Tolbert’s presidency and the bloody aftermath that followed.
Family members of the late president are expressing their outrage, grieving anew for the loss of a loved one in such a violent and brutal manner.
For many, the exhumation is a stark reminder of the tragic events of 1980, when Tolbert was overthrown and killed in a violent coup orchestrated by a military junta under the command of then Master Sergeant Samuel K. Doe.
Despite the public outcry, Tolbert’s family had planned for this exhumation well in advance. They had made a solemn promise to honor his memory and legacy, and they have now fulfilled that promise.
The remains of the late president, along with those of his government officials, will be temporarily housed at St. Moses Funeral Home in preparation for their reburial.
The family has announced plans to reinter the remains in a private ceremony scheduled for July of this year.
The exhumation has raised many questions about the fate of the remains and the political motivations behind the decision.
Some speculate that the move could be linked to recent developments in the country, as tensions over historical injustices and unresolved national wounds have come to the forefront of public discourse.
Liberia is left grappling with the emotional and historical weight of this event as the nation continues to process the implications of exhuming the remains of a former president who played a significant role in shaping the country’s modern history.
The family’s commitment to reburial is seen as an effort to give Tolbert and the other officials a dignified resting place.
However, the nation remains divided over whether this act is a necessary step for closure or a painful reminder of a tragic chapter in Liberia’s past.