Liberia’s president signs order to establish war crimes court

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Liberian President Joseph Boakai signed an executive order Thursday to establish a long-awaited war and economic crimes court meant to provide justice for victims of serious abuses committed during the country’s 14-year civil war.

The president’s assent came after the country’s lawmakers last month endorsed the establishment of the court.

Boakai said the court would help bring “justice and closure to the scars and memories of our tragic and violent misadventure.”

Noting that the time to act is “now,” Boakai said for “peace and harmony to have a chance to prevail, justice and healing must perfect the groundwork.”

The creation of the court was one of Boakai’s pledges in his inauguration speech in January.

“Crucial step for peace, justice, reconciliation and sustainable development in Liberia,” the Swedish ambassador to the country, Urban Sjostrom, said on X.

In 2009, the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommended the establishment of a war crimes tribunal.

But reports indicate that a number of accused warlords remain influential in their communities and were fiercely opposed to the establishment of the court.

The devastating civil war in the West African nation left roughly 250,000 people dead between 1989 and 2003. Between 61.4% and 77.4% of women and girls in Liberia were raped during the war, according to the UN.