Amos Sawyer

Amos Claudius Sawyer (June 15, 1945 – February 16, 2022) was a distinguished Liberian politician, academic, and advocate for democracy. Born in Sinoe County, Liberia, to Abel and Sarah Sawyer, he hailed from a prominent family with ancestral ties to African-American colonists who established "Maryland in Africa," later integrating into Liberia in 1857.

Sawyer pursued higher education at Liberia College (now the University of Liberia), graduating in 1966. He furthered his studies in the United States, earning both a Master's and a Ph.D. in political science from Northwestern University in Illinois. Upon returning to Liberia, he served as a professor of political science at the University of Liberia and was appointed dean of the College of Social Sciences in December 1980.

A fervent advocate for justice, Sawyer co-founded the Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA) and established the Liberian People's Party in 1983. His political journey led him to run for mayor of Monrovia as an independent, challenging the longstanding dominance of the True Whig Party.

In the tumultuous period following President Samuel Doe's abduction in 1990, Liberia faced political instability. An emergency conference in The Gambia, comprising representatives from various political parties and interest groups, elected Sawyer as the interim president on November 22, 1990. He served in this capacity until March 7, 1994, navigating the nation through the challenges of civil unrest.

After his presidency, Sawyer continued his academic pursuits in the United States, serving as associate director and research scholar at Indiana University in Bloomington. He later chaired Liberia's Governance Reform Commission, focusing on promoting democratic governance. His literary contributions include "The Emergence of Autocracy in Liberia: Tragedy and Challenge" (1992) and "Beyond Plunder: Toward Democratic Governance in Liberia" (2005), both examining Liberia's political landscape and advocating for democratic reforms.

In recognition of his efforts toward peace and democracy, Sawyer was awarded the Gusi Peace Prize in 2011. He retired from active politics in October 2021 due to health challenges but remained a committed advocate for Liberia's development and democratic principles. Dr. Amos Sawyer passed away on February 16, 2022, at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, leaving behind a legacy of dedication to justice, education, and democratic governance