Liberia marked its 178th Independence Day on June 26, 2025, with a grand celebration that paid tribute to regional unity and peacebuilding, highlighting the instrumental role played by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in the country’s path to peace and reconciliation.
The event, held in Monrovia, was attended by several West African leaders, including the Presidents of Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, as well as senior officials from Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire—reflecting Liberia’s enduring diplomatic and historical ties within the region.
In honour of ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary, the Liberian government, under the leadership of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, presented awards to member states that contributed troops to ECOMOG during Liberia’s civil crisis. These included Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.
Special recognition was also given to former Executive Secretaries of ECOWAS whose leadership was instrumental in Liberia’s peace process. Those honoured included H.E. Lansana Kouyaté, H.E. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu, and H.E. Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas.
The ceremony served not only as a national celebration but also as a moment of reflection on Liberia’s recovery and the invaluable support provided by regional partners in restoring peace and stability.
