By: Julius Konton
Former Liberian President George Manneh Weah has extended heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Dr. Abass Kanneh, Grand Mufti of the Republic of Liberia, describing his death as a profound loss not only for Liberia’s Muslim community but for the nation and the broader international interfaith community.
In a statement issued Tuesday from abroad, where he is currently traveling, the former president expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the respected Islamic scholar, who died on July 29, 2026, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Weah conveyed his sympathies to the Kanneh family, the National Muslim Council of Liberia, Muslims across Liberia and the diaspora, members of the country’s interfaith community, and all Liberians mourning the loss of one of the nation’s most influential religious leaders.
“The Muslim Community and I have also come a long way,” Weah said.
“I attended Muslim Congress, I was at some point a Muslim, and converted back to being a Christian.
They are also my people. Just like the Christian Community, when they are bereaved, I am bereaved; when they have a loss, it is my loss.”
The former Liberian leader further announced that upon his return to Liberia, he intends to personally visit the bereaved family and the National Muslim Council to offer his condolences in person.
Weah praised the late Grand Mufti as one of Liberia’s foremost Islamic scholars, describing him as an accomplished educator, expert in Islamic theology, comparative religion, and Islamic jurisprudence whose influence extended far beyond Liberia’s borders.
According to the former president, Dr. Kanneh devoted decades of his life to promoting religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence, education, and social justice during some of Liberia’s most challenging periods.
He noted that the late cleric earned widespread respect for fostering dialogue between Christians and Muslims, helping strengthen Liberia’s longstanding tradition of interfaith cooperation that has often been cited as one of West Africa’s strongest examples of religious harmony.
Liberia’s Muslim population is estimated to constitute approximately 12–20 percent of the country’s more than 5.5 million people, making Islam the nation’s second-largest religion.
For decades, the Grand Mufti has served as one of the country’s highest Islamic authorities, providing spiritual guidance while contributing to national reconciliation, education, and community development.
Weah said Dr. Kanneh’s legacy would endure through his scholarship, mentorship, humanitarian service, and unwavering commitment to national unity.
“The late Grand Mufti will be remembered for his teachings, scholarly work, selflessness, and dedicated service to the Muslim community, the interfaith community, Liberian society, and humanity at large,” the former president noted.
Concluding his message, Weah urged the Kanneh family, Liberia’s Muslim community, religious leaders, and citizens across the country to find comfort and strength during this period of mourning.
He expressed hope that faith would sustain all those grieving, emphasizing that Dr. Kanneh’s lifelong contributions to peace, reconciliation, and moral leadership would remain an enduring source of inspiration for future generations.
The death of Grand Mufti Dr. Abass Kanneh has prompted an outpouring of tributes from religious leaders, public officials, and ordinary Liberians, reflecting the profound impact of a man widely regarded as a bridge-builder whose leadership transcended religious and political boundaries.
