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📅 holiday

National Unification Day

Thursday, May 14, 2026

— days to go

Every 14 May is National Unification Day in Liberia. The holiday is also sometimes referred to as “Integration Day”. The purpose of the holiday is to seek improved relations between the descendants of freed American slaves who colonised Liberia and the original native population. In 2027, National Unification Day falls on Friday 14 May. The holiday will be on Sunday 14 May in 2028. In 1822, Liberia became a US colonial possession in Africa, obtained for the purpose of allowing liberated black slaves to return, if they wished, to the continent of their ancestors. As soon as 1847, Liberia became an independent nation. The “Americo-Liberians”, however, became an elite ruling class that practiced segregation against the “native Liberians”. Finally, Liberian president William Tubman ended the segregation and granted the vote to all Liberians in 1944. This was a policy aimed at bringing national unity and integration. National Unification Day was declared a public holiday in Liberia in 1960 to honour the historic change brought about by President Tubman. Despite the progress that has been made, there were back to back civil wars in Liberia in the 1990’s and early 2000’s related to the ethnic and historic divide. But National Unification Day at least provides an opportunity to stress the need for the nation to unite further and to celebrate the progress that has already been achieved.

History

The purpose of the holiday is to seek improved relations between the descendants of freed American slaves who colonised Liberia and the original native population. Despite the progress that has been made, there were back to back civil wars in Liberia in the 1990’s and early 2000’s related to the ethnic and historic divide

How It's Celebrated

The holiday is also sometimes referred to as “Integration Day”. The purpose of the holiday is to seek improved relations between the descendants of freed American slaves who colonised Liberia and the original native population. The holiday will be on Sunday 14 May in 2028. National Unification Day w

Other Years

2026 Thu
14 May
2027 Fri
14 May
2028 Sun
14 May
2025 Wed
14 May
2024 Tue
14 May

Countries

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