Capitol Hill campus, May 14, 2026 – The University of Liberia hosted a National Unification Day Dialogue on Tuesday in commemoration of Liberia’s 62nd National Unification Day celebration.

The event, held under the theme: “Assessing the Impact of Presidential and Legislative Elections on Peace, National Unification, Reconciliation, and Good Governance in Liberia,” was organized by Better Future Foundation in collaboration with the Coalition for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia.

The dialogue on May 12 drew government and diplomatic representatives, university officials, faculty, staff, and students to the Tubman Hall Auditorium on the university’s Capitol Hill campus.

President urges election-based unity

Welcoming the guests, University of Liberia President Dr. Layli Maparyan said National Unification Day is a reminder that Liberia’s progress depends not only on political victories, but also on the country’s ability to nurture peace, mutual respect, reconciliation, and inclusive governance.

“Elections are essential pillars of democracy, yet their true value is measured by the extent to which they promote national cohesion, public trust, justice, and sustainable development. All of these are what we as a nation should stand for and live for,” she said.

President Maparyan also said it is fitting for the university to host the dialogue, noting UL’s commitment to providing a platform for meaningful dialogue as Liberia strengthens its democratic processes. War crimes court office highlights accountability. Meanwhile, Prof. Jallah A. Barbu, executive director of the Office of War and Economic Crimes Court, said Liberia’s civil conflict left behind painful scars that continue to affect families, communities, and institutions across the country.

Barbu cautioned that the lingering effects of impunity, corruption, inequality, and institutional weakness continue to hinder Liberia’s aspirations for genuine unity and development. “It is against this backdrop that conversations surrounding national unification and accountability become critically important,” said Cllr. Barbu.

He described national unification as a conscious and sustained effort to build a society in which every citizen – regardless of ethnicity, region, religion, gender, political affiliation, or social status – feels included, protected, respected, and represented.

UN rights envoy: reconciliation is daily life

In a goodwill message, UN diplomat Mr. Christian Mukosa said respect for human rights – including freedom of speech and expression – remains a key foundation for reconciliation. “So reconciliation should not be seen as a mere word, as a slogan, but it is something we live on a daily basis, every day,” said Mukosa, the country representative and chief of the Office for the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Liberia.

Defense minister stresses professional, non-political military

Defense Minister Geraldine Janet George noted that a united people builds stronger institutions, resilient communities, and strengthens national confidence.
She assured that the Armed Forces of Liberia remains committed to its constitutional mandate as a professional, disciplined, and non-political institution serving all Liberians equally.

Giving an overview of the dialogue, Rev. Augustine S. Arkoi said the National Unification Day 2026 isn’t just a commemoration, but also a review conference to advance reconciliation. Arkoi, chief executive officer of the Better Future Foundation, said the foundation is highlighting resilience to support reconciliation, including an ongoing survey to collect responses from 15,000 people across Liberia’s 15 counties. He disclosed that the survey will inform researchers on conflict-sensitive issues, including land disputes and transitional justice issues.

“These are things that we need to deal with to ensure that this country is fully reconciled. We are happy to partner with the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court to support the Government of Liberia to reconcile our people,” said Rev. Arkoi.

Launch of unification hero award

In his remarks, Mr. J. Alphanso D. Perkins, assistant minister for decentralization at the Ministry of Local Government, praised the organizers and officially launched the Mary Nema Brownell National Unification Hero/Heroine Award. Perkins said that despite differences in ethnicity, region, or background, Liberians share one national identity and must work together toward peaceful co-existence, tolerance, and national healing.

Elections need stronger institutions

Concluding the discussions, Sinoe County District Number One Representative Thomas Romeo Quiah emphasized that national unity and sustainable peace cannot be achieved through periodic elections alone. He argued that the process must be strengthened by credible institutions, inclusive governance, equitable representation, and public confidence in the electoral process.