Says It Is “in Compliance With Liberia’s International Legal Obligations And By The Will Of The Liberian People “
By Frank Sainworla, Jr. fsainworla@yahoo.com
On the eve of his departure to attend the US government’s Democracy Summit in Washington, Liberia’s President Joseph Nyuma Boakai today, Thursday, May 2, 2024 signed a law establishing the office of a War and Economic Crimes Court.
Surrounded by American and other Western diplomats as well as top Liberian government officials, President Boakai, who took office three months ago, signed Executive Order #131 at the Executive Mansion in Monrovia.
Days before Thursday’s signing, former President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate and current Senator of Grand Bassa County, Gbezhongar Findley called for the holding of a National Referendum to get the wish of the Liberian people as to whether they really want a war crimes court in this West African nation.
Liberia’s traditional ally, the United States government has in recent times given their full backing to the Boakai government on the setting up of a war crimes court, something the Americans had not been keen on during the 12 years rule of ex-President Sirleaf.
But during January’s inauguration, the head of the US government delegation, American UN Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield said that the United States was in full support of President Boakai’s promise to set up a war and economic crimes court. She also said the Biden administration was in full support of the new Liberian leader’s pledge to fight corruption and other economic crimes in the country.
The Executive Order says the Liberian leader’s move has been prompted by the Joint Resolution recently passed by the Legislature “in compliance with Liberia’s international legal obligations and by the will of the Liberian people to obtain justice and bring closure to the events of the Liberian civil war,”
The 14 years Liberian civil war, which officially ended in 2003, caused the lives of some 250,000 people, according to United Nations estimate. But to date, none of Liberia’s warlords and perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity has been brought to justice by Liberia. Prosecution for war and economic crimes was recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in its 2010 report. But Boakai’s two predecessors–former Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and George Manneh Weah–failed to endorse the setting up of a war and economic crimes court.
President Boakai, who came to power on January 22 this year and had previously served as Vice President under former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for 12 years up to 2017, has put as one of his priority accountability for war and economic crimes during his administration.
Before signing the Executive Order #131, President Boakai said: ” The move will consummate the process that will bring justice and closure to the scars and memories of the war.”
According to the new law, the war and economic crimes court office shall be headed by “an Executive Director who shall be an astute Lawyer of impeccable character,” among other things.
