Harry Moniba

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 Liberian's threatening violence if he wasn't 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.A funeral, Dr. Moniba's widow was presented with the United States flag by Congresman Nick Smith, The flag was 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." Dr. Moniba had a room dedicated to him at the Liberian Embassy in Washington D.C in February of 2007.

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, he gave one of the speeches that he is most famous for, imploring all Liberian's never to resort to violence to settle disputes.

Diplomatic career

Moniba’s career culminated to him serving as the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia from 1984 to 1990. He also served the post 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 post of Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director of Research at the Ministry of Education in Monrovia, Liberia,

Awards

Moniba received an award from the Liberian Human Rights Chapter in 1994 stating 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, and did his Masters Degree Program in International Relations and European Studies at New York University.

Publications

Published Manuscript: "Liberian Politics Today: Some Personal Observations".In this work Moniba is quoted as saying “I attempted to tell my fellow Liberians some problems in national leadership from my vantage point as Vice President of Liberia… and how Liberians can avoid future conflicts and dangerous pitfalls of blind partisanship and ethnicity in good governance.”In his next book titled, "A Vision of the Future", he adviced 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.”

ources

* [http://www.theperspective.org/2004/nov/drmoniba.html "Liberia’s Former Vice President Harry Moniba Is Dead" 26 November 2004]
* [http://www.tlcafrica.com/election_2005.htm TLC Africa "Candidates for President" of Liberia]
* [http://www.uniboa.org/moniba2.html "Quiet Rememberance of Dr. Harry Fumba Moniba" 21 November 2005]