Harry Moniba
Encyclopedia
Dr. Harry Fumba Moniba (22 October 1937- 24 November 2004) was a politician in Liberia
hailing from the northeastern county of Lofa
. He was the vice-president of Liberia from 1984 to September 1990 under the banner of the National Democratic Party of Liberia
and ran for president in 1997
. He planned to run in the 2005 Liberian presidential election but was killed in a 2-car accident in Michigan
on 24 November 2004. He was afforded one of the largest state funerals in Liberian history. He left behind his wife Minita, and their five children. His burial grounds was highly contested with several groups of Liberians threatening violence if he was not buried in his home county, while others advocated for him to be buried on the grounds of the national gravesite. His family decided to place his remains in the compound of their suburban Monrovia
home. Two funerals were held in honor of Dr. Moniba: one in the United States and one in his home country of Liberia. At the U.S. funeral, Dr. Moniba's widow (Minita) was presented with the United States flag by Congresman Nick Smith
. The flag had been flown at half mast over the U.S Capitol, making him the only Liberian in history to receive such an honor. The Congressman stated, "Dr. Moniba loved his country, and worked tirelessly to establish peace and prosperity for Liberia. He understood well the true role of a politician in a democratic society." A room was dedicated in Dr. Moniba's honor at the Liberian Embassy in Washington D.C. in February 2007. He also has a primary school named in his honor in Monrovia, Liberia.
In her memoir 'This Child Will Be Great', President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, describes the general election of 1985 as rigged, claiming that the results were 'utterly, utterly false.' Johnson Sirleaf ran for Senator in the election, winning her seat, but along with others protesting the widespread election fraud, refused to take it.
In regards to it, Dr. Moniba stated: “In this work, I attempted to tell my fellow Liberians some problems in national leadership from my vantage point as Vice President of Liberia from 1984 to 1990, and how Liberians can avoid future conflicts and dangerous pitfalls of blind partisanship and ethnicity in good governance. I also reviewed the different types of democratic forms of government as seen in the West and their general impact on national development, particularly in third world countries.”
In his next book titled, A Vision of the Future, he advised Liberians about what needed to be done in postwar Liberia in order to ensure national unity, political stability in governance, and socio-economic development. “I further emphasized the need for every Liberian to have a new vision of a Liberia based on social justice, respect for human rights and rule of law. I also admonished my countrymen to remember that what had happened to us during the civil war should be a lesson for everyone to learn from in our arduous task for national reconstruction and reconciliation.”
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
hailing from the northeastern county of Lofa
Lofa County
Lofa is a county in the northernmost portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has six districts. Voinjama serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...
. He was the vice-president of Liberia from 1984 to September 1990 under the banner of the National Democratic Party of Liberia
National Democratic Party of Liberia
The National Democratic Party of Liberia is a political party in Liberia.The NDPL was formed in August 1984 by supporters of Samuel Doe, who came to power in a 1980 military coup. The party contested the 15 October 1985 elections with Doe as its presidential candidate. He won 50.93% of the vote in...
and ran for president in 1997
Liberian elections, 1997
The 1997 Liberian general election was held on 19 July 1997 as part of the 1996 peace agreement ending the First Liberian Civil War. The presidency, as well as all seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate were up for election...
. He planned to run in the 2005 Liberian presidential election but was killed in a 2-car accident in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
on 24 November 2004. He was afforded one of the largest state funerals in Liberian history. He left behind his wife Minita, and their five children. His burial grounds was highly contested with several groups of Liberians threatening violence if he was not buried in his home county, while others advocated for him to be buried on the grounds of the national gravesite. His family decided to place his remains in the compound of their suburban Monrovia
Monrovia
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
home. Two funerals were held in honor of Dr. Moniba: one in the United States and one in his home country of Liberia. At the U.S. funeral, Dr. Moniba's widow (Minita) was presented with the United States flag by Congresman Nick Smith
Nick Smith (U.S. politician)
Nick H. Smith is a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan, who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1993 until 2005, representing from the 7th District of Michigan.-Life and career:...
. The flag had been flown at half mast over the U.S Capitol, making him the only Liberian in history to receive such an honor. The Congressman stated, "Dr. Moniba loved his country, and worked tirelessly to establish peace and prosperity for Liberia. He understood well the true role of a politician in a democratic society." A room was dedicated in Dr. Moniba's honor at the Liberian Embassy in Washington D.C. in February 2007. He also has a primary school named in his honor in Monrovia, Liberia.
Vice-Presidency
Harry Moniba served as interim vice president from 1984 to 1985 before serving as Liberia's elected vice president from 6 January 1986 to September 1990. While vice president, he was captured by dissident forces in 1985 and, at gun point, was told to turn in the resignation of the government on national radio. Refusing to do so, he gave one of the speeches that he is most famous for, imploring all Liberians never to resort to violence to settle disputes.In her memoir 'This Child Will Be Great', President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, describes the general election of 1985 as rigged, claiming that the results were 'utterly, utterly false.' Johnson Sirleaf ran for Senator in the election, winning her seat, but along with others protesting the widespread election fraud, refused to take it.
Dr. Harry F. Moniba Foundation
The mission of the Dr. Harry Fumba Moniba Foundation (HFMF), a 501(c) (3) U.S. nonprofit public charity, is to promote Dr. Moniba's legacies of nonviolence and public service integrity by providing educational opportunities that make a difference in the lives of deserving youths in postwar Liberia. The foundation also supports programs that fight illiteracy and raises the standards of living for Liberians. Dr. Harry F. Moniba FoundationDr. Harry F. Moniba Foundation
The mission of the Dr. Harry Fumba Moniba Foundation , a 501 U.S. nonprofit public charity, is to promote Dr. Moniba's legacies of nonviolence and public service integrity by providing educational opportunities that make a difference in the lives of deserving youths in postwar Liberia...
Diplomatic career
Moniba’s career culminated to him serving as the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia from 1985 to 1990. He also served in the posts of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Liberia to the Court of St. James, London, England, and the Sovereign Military Order Malta, Rome, Italy. Dr. Moniba also held the posts of Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Director of Research at the Ministry of Education in Monrovia, Liberia and First Secretary & Consul to the Embassy of Liberia in Washington D.C. and Ottawa, Canada.Awards
Moniba received an award from the Liberian Human Rights Chapter in 1994 in honor of his dedicated and tireless efforts in respecting human life. The Chapter stated that along with not supporting any faction in the civil war, “Moniba always valued equality and justice for all and felt as if this was a sign that their fellow Liberian country men and women was acknowledging his hard work in his fight against human suffering.”Education
Dr. Moniba earned his PhD, in International Relations and African Studies at Michigan State University. He received his Masters of Science Degree in Secondary Education with a Minor in Nineteenth Century European Studies at New York University and received his Post Masters’ degree in International Relations and European Studies at State University of New York, New Paltz, New York. His Bachelors Degree in Secondary Education (Cum Laude) was earned at Cuttington University College, Liberia.Publications
Published Manuscript: Liberian Politics Today: Some Personal Observations.In regards to it, Dr. Moniba stated: “In this work, I attempted to tell my fellow Liberians some problems in national leadership from my vantage point as Vice President of Liberia from 1984 to 1990, and how Liberians can avoid future conflicts and dangerous pitfalls of blind partisanship and ethnicity in good governance. I also reviewed the different types of democratic forms of government as seen in the West and their general impact on national development, particularly in third world countries.”
In his next book titled, A Vision of the Future, he advised Liberians about what needed to be done in postwar Liberia in order to ensure national unity, political stability in governance, and socio-economic development. “I further emphasized the need for every Liberian to have a new vision of a Liberia based on social justice, respect for human rights and rule of law. I also admonished my countrymen to remember that what had happened to us during the civil war should be a lesson for everyone to learn from in our arduous task for national reconstruction and reconciliation.”