National Redemption Day is a significant holiday in Liberia, observed annually on April 12. This day serves as a remembrance of the 1980 military coup led by Master Sergeant Samuel K. Doe and the People's Redemption Council. They overthrew and assassinated then-President William R. Tolbert Jr., bringing an end to 133 years of Americo-Liberian political dominance in the country. The coup marked one of the most transformative moments in Liberia's history as it notably ruptured the political hegemony and power structure in the nation.
The decade-long regime of Samuel Doe that ensued after the coup is remembered both as a time of strife and as an effort towards national redemption—hence, the name of the holiday. Doe's regime, though marred with corruption, repression and economic strife, is also remembered for broadening political participation to indigenous Liberians who had been marginalized under the Americo-Liberian ruling class since the nation's founding in 1847. It is this dual perspective that the holiday tends to evoke in the Liberian populace.
In spite of its controversial backdrop, National Redemption Day remains an important commemoration in Liberia. It is a sober memorial of upheaval, aspiration, and change. On this day, Liberians reflect on their history and the significant political shift that this day brought. The holiday is a time for reflection and discussion about the past, the polarizing figures involved, and the direction that Liberians desire for their nation's future.