Executive Mansion, Monrovia

The Executive Mansion of Liberia is the official residence and workplace of the country's president.[1][2] Located across the street from the Capitol Building in the Capitol Hill district of Monrovia, the current building was constructed during the presidency of William Tubman, which lasted from 1944 to 1971.[2] The construction started in 1961, and was completed in 1964.[3][4]

Executive Mansion
Executive Mansion in 2009.
Executive Mansion, Monrovia is located in Liberia
Executive Mansion, Monrovia
Location within Liberia
General information
StatusIn use
TypePresidential palace
LocationCapitol Hill district
Town or cityMonrovia
CountryLiberia
Coordinates6°18′01″N 10°47′54″W / 6.3003°N 10.7983°W / 6.3003; -10.7983
Current tenantsPresident Joseph Boakai
Construction started1961
Completed1964
ClientWilliam Tubman
OwnerGovernment of Liberia
Technical details
Floor count8
Known forOfficial residence of the president of Liberia
A 1999 UN map of Monrovia, showing the location of the Executive Mansion.

The Executive Mansion was the scene of the murder of Tubman's successor, President William Tolbert (in office 1971–1980), during the 1980 coup d'état.[5]

According to public hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), blood ritual and other sacrifices were performed at the Executive Mansion during the presidency of Samuel Doe, which lasted from 1980 to 1990. They were meant to render the president as well as the Executive Mansion impregnable. Hundreds of people, especially men, are also said to have been killed on the grounds of the Executive Mansion in the wake of the failed coup attempt by Thomas Quiwonkpa in 1985.[3]

The Executive Mansion was destroyed by fire on July 26, 2006, during the 159th anniversary celebration of the adoption of the Liberian Declaration of Independence. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (in office 2006–2018) was at the time feting foreign guests and dignitaries in the gardens of the Executive Mansion.[6] On February 14, 2022, the Executive Mansion was reopened.[7]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Johnston, Sir Harry Hamilton; Otto Stapf (1906). Liberia. Vol. 1. Dodd, Mead & Company. p. 222.
  2. ^ a b Massaquoi, Hans J. (October 1971). "Liberia: End of the Tubman Era". Ebony: 48.
  3. ^ a b Alwin Worzi (January 18, 2018). "Executive Mansion Not Prepared for Weah". Daily Observer. Archived from the original on February 28, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  4. ^ "Monrovia". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  5. ^ "Liberia: After the Takeover, Revenge". Time. April 18, 1980. Archived from the original on September 28, 2008.
  6. ^ Clayeh, J. H. Webster (May 4, 2021). "Liberia: Executive Mansion Wall Falls". FrontPage Africa.
  7. ^ "Liberia: President Weah to Move in the Executive Mansion on February 14". FrontPageAfrica. Retrieved February 18, 2022.