Monrovia — Former Liberian Cultural Ambassador Juli Endee has called for the equitable distribution of the country’s resources, especially to citizens in the leeward regions, and for greater investment in young people as key strategies to sustain peace and reconciliation in Liberia. Ambassador Endee made these remarks at the opening of the Diaspora Annual Return Peace and Reconciliation Dialogue, held recently in Congo Town, outside Monrovia, emphasizing that reconciliation in Liberia has often been more rhetorical than practical.
By Obediah Johnson
She observed that citizens remain deeply divided despite large budgetary allocations for reconciliation initiatives and said the government has a responsibility to provide essential social services, including access to health care and electricity, to promote national unity and peace. “Reconciliation has been a lip service maybe for budgetary allotment or for donor support,” she stated, highlighting the gap between policy intentions and tangible outcomes on the ground.
Ambassador Endee further pointed to the lingering psychological effects of the Liberian civil war, noting that hate, jealousy, and envy persist among Liberians because many perpetrators and victims have yet to reconcile. She warned that post-traumatic disorder, which sometimes leads to the abuse of minors, is another scar left by the failure to achieve genuine reconciliation.
She called for the crafting of a genuine reconciliation framework grounded in community dialogues, peacebuilding initiatives, and reparations, among other measures, stressing that all stakeholders must face reality and engage in honest discussions to drive and sustain peace. Ambassador Endee also highlighted the importance of economic empowerment, particularly through investment in young people by both the government and Liberians in the diaspora, as a means to prevent anti-peace activities and foster national unity.
“Liberians as a whole—we are divided. We must change our attitude and mind. We must learn to love one another,” Ambassador Endee said, urging citizens to stop bullying and hating one another on social media platforms. She further emphasized the need to support competent professionals in public service, explaining, “Some of us are inept, and so when we see professional people we are afraid. But if you know and understand yourself—and you have psycho-social competence, you will love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
