On July 26, 2025, throughout Liberia’s Independence Day Celebration in Monrovia, Dr. Emmett Layfette Dunn delivered a strong oratorical speech emphasizing nationwide unity, inclusion, reconciliation, and accountable governance.
By Austin S. Fallah, contributing author
The speech highlights Liberia’s resilience whereas calling for decisive motion, inspiring hope with out ignoring harsh realities.
Dr. Dunn affirms the important function of the opposition in a wholesome democracy, insisting they shouldn’t be demonized however revered as essential for accountability and nationwide progress.
This isn’t a protection of wrongdoing, masking societal corruption and evil.
Nonetheless, a name for mutual respect inside a multiparty system, recognizing that constructive disagreement strengthens establishments based on civility, legislation, and dialogue.
Nonetheless, some may see the concentrate on reconciliation, apology, and restorative justice as doubtlessly lenient on accountability, particularly for the reason that orator accepts the President’s public apology on behalf of the folks.
Whereas advocating for a nationwide reconciliation fee and therapeutic, the speech stops in need of explicitly demanding prosecutions of conflict criminals or full implementation of the Fact and Reconciliation Fee’s suggestions.
This raises a important private query.
Does prioritizing therapeutic threat permit wrongdoers to evade justice?
However, Dr. Dunn’s name for the President to “hearth and never droop” officers and to “implement the legal guidelines” signifies that justice and reform stay priorities, although unity is emphasised over retribution.
The speech clearly doesn’t endorse impunity however urges Liberians to reject vengeance and political scapegoating in favor of authorized accountability, inclusive governance, and institutional reform.
It distinguishes nationwide therapeutic from nationwide forgetting by proposing a fee devoted to truth-telling and civic training.
The speech encourages respect for political opposition and goals to interrupt cycles of retribution, but it surely doesn’t advocate ignoring the legislation or shielding the responsible.
As an alternative, it calls on the federal government, opposition, youth, diaspora, and civil society to uphold justice, fight corruption, and concentrate on Liberia’s long-term transformation past short-term political pursuits.
