Liberian President Joseph Boakai has issued an executive order to establish the nation’s inaugural war crimes court, more than two decades after the conclusion of two civil wars that claimed 250,000 lives.
In a statement, Boakai remarked that Liberia had endured “downpours of agony” as a result of the conflicts spanning from 1989 to 2003.
These turbulent times he said, were marred by heinous acts, including mass killings, rape, and the forcible conscription of child soldiers.
Despite opposition from critics who fear the reopening of old wounds, the President asserted that the establishment of the court would facilitate the exploration of the root causes and repercussions of the violence, ultimately fostering “justice and healing.”
This significant development marks the initial stride towards the establishment of a war crimes court in Liberia.
Previously, in 2006, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was instituted by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, albeit not as a tribunal.
In 2009, the TRC identified individuals for potential prosecution for war crimes, yet no legal action ensued. The commission faced political controversies, particularly when it implicated sitting politicians like Senator Prince Yormie Johnson.
While no trials have taken place within Liberia, certain perpetrators have faced justice in foreign jurisdictions.
Notably, former Liberian President Charles Taylor is serving a 50-year sentence in the United Kingdom for war crimes committed during the Sierra Leone conflict.
Chioma Kalu
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