President Joseph Nyuma Boakai of Liberia has unveiled the model of a national memorial park on Bali Island in Monrovia. The park is designed to honor the victims and survivors of the 14-year civil war that nearly brought the nation to extinction. The unveiling ceremony was attended by high-ranking government officials, diplomatic partners, international organization representatives, security veterans, traditional elders, religious leaders, and youth advocates. The memorial park is expected to become a landmark of historical preservation in West Africa.
The memorial park, designed by Project Designer Joe Mulbah, will feature a 15-story county tower, a peace museum, an eternal flame, and a Heroes' Park. The park will have a pedestrian-friendly entrance and a spacious parking complex capable of accommodating up to 700 vehicles. The central plaza will be flanked by monuments dedicated to Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member states and the force commanders who served during Liberia's conflict, and a dedicated United Nations (UN) memorial monument.
The peace museum, architecturally shaped to mirror the image of mothers and sisters who stood under sun and rain with raised hands praying for peace, will serve as the emotional anchor of the park. The museum will be located near a grand parade ground flanked by evocative artistic installations depicting citizens fleeing with bundles on their heads and the tumultuous realities of the war years. The centerpiece of the complex is a towering 15-story memorial structure, with each floor symbolizing one of the nation's 15 counties and cataloging the unique historical experiences of those regions during the conflict.
The memorial park will also feature West Africa's first astronomical observatory, offering views of the galaxy, alongside an automated eternal flame scheduled to ignite at 7 p.m. every evening across the Monrovia skyline as a nightly reminder of the vow: "No more war, only peace." The entire complex will be sustained by a dedicated solar farm to ensure uninterrupted green energy. The grounds will house a National Heroes' Park, a dignified final resting place for the nation's founding and historical leaders previously buried across disparate counties.
The unveiling ceremony was marked by heartfelt welcome remarks from Minister of State without Portfolio, Hon. Mamaka Bility, who emphasized that the memorial belongs first and foremost to the families of victims and survivors. She noted that the unveiling feeds directly into the upcoming deliberations of the Liberia Peace, Reconciliation and Memorial Museum Steering Committee, scheduled to meet from November 16 to 18, 2026, to institutionalize historical preservation for future generations.
Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti expanded the scope of the occasion by connecting Liberia's domestic healing process to its broader diplomatic standing and its upcoming presidency of the United Nations Security Council. She highlighted the heroic interventions of the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), comprising troop contributions from Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and across the subregion. Nyanti recalled how West African neighbors stood as family when Liberia's house was on fire.
The international community has reaffirmed its unwavering support for President Boakai's dual pursuit of accountability and national healing. The UN envoy praised the administration for ensuring that justice remains a reality for victims and survivors through the ongoing establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC), hand-in-hand with grassroots peacebuilding. The memorial's credibility may rest on the court's progress.
Key points
- The memorial park will feature a 15-story county tower, a peace museum, an eternal flame, and a Heroes' Park.
- The park will be sustained by a dedicated solar farm to ensure uninterrupted green energy.
- The memorial's credibility may rest on the progress of the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC).
