“Liberia’s Reburials, A Good First Step -But Two More Steps to Achieve Reconciliation,” Says Bishop Kortu K. Brown

MONROVIA – Many perspectives have emerged in reaction to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s program to give high public officials violently killed years back and bring closure to these dastardly events for the nation and families. Some say it is a right step in the right direction. Others think it does not worth it. And there are those who think little more has to be done. The latter angle resonates with a Liberian cleric, Bishop Kortu Brown, who observes that while the reburial is a necessary first step and is appreciated, there are two more steps needed to be taken in order to achieve full reconciliation and national healing. The Analyst reports.

A Liberian ‘Man of God’, Water in the Desert Assembly bishop Kortu Brown has shared in viewpoint on the ongoing two presidents and other government officials’ reburial.

“As we struggle to reconcile a broken and shattered nation, we must recognize and thank the Boakai administration for the efforts made in the last several weeks to rebury the retrieved remains of former leaders of the country who lost their lives during different phases of our social upheavals and were buried in mass and/or sometimes unidentified graves,” he asserted during church service.

“This is an appreciable first step, I believe on the road to reconciling the country”, Bishop Brown noted, as he identifies with the agonies many families have suffered over the past five decades as they struggled with the gruesome loss of family members.

Speaking on the second day of a weeklong Thanksgiving and Intercessory Prayer service on Monday, June 30, 2025, at New Water in the Desert Assembly Apostolic Pentecostal Church International in Brewerville, Montserrado County, the outspoken cleric emphasized the dire need for reconciliation in the country without which the people remain terribly divided and unable to forge together in promoting national development.

Reconciliation in Liberia must be executed in three phases if we must achieve national reconciliation and renewal, the former president of the Liberia Council of Churches suggested, adding, “First, we must deal with our horrible past and try as much as possible to heal those deep wounds from our senseless crises”

Secondly, Bishop Brown advised that the Country must then move onto dealing with the present hurdles to healing and reconciliation some of which are rooted in our attempts to promote multi-party democracy, rule of law, etc., but we’re finding it difficult to adjust with how we maintain and/or promote, at the same time, peaceful coexistence, constructive dialogue, transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline, fight against corruption, amongst others

“It’s not a secret that the presidential and legislative elections of October 2023 were closely contested and narrowly won. But a win is a win. However, we must also win the peace and not just an election. We must make efforts to bring the Country together and not just govern with bigotry and disregard for the views of other people even if they are considered ‘Opposition’ or different views from ours”, he warned.

Thirdly, he said, that the Country must address threats to Future peace and stability. “If we continue to behave and govern ourselves the same way we did that led to deaths and destruction then we are undermining whatever little gains we make in healing our past and driving the present.

“We must eschew hate, lying on one another, undermining one another, governing in deceit and arrogance. We must ensure the economic plight of ordinary Liberians are addressed. We must make the right decisions for our country and not pursue vainglory. We should be able to say sorry to one another when we are wrong, and we must reach out to one another to build a stronger peace and a better society. We must not mortgage the economic future of our Country. This is how we will be assured of a sustained future, peace and reconciliation”, he contended.

He drew lessons from Hebrews 13:8 and reminds us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”