New York, USA – Speaking before the Committee on Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, Dr. Alan W. White, Co-Executive Director of the Advocacy Foundation for Human Rights, made a compelling case for the urgent need to address ritualistic killings in Africa, with Liberia in particular. Dr. White outlined the Foundation’s mission to combat violations of human rights, such as ritualistic executions, as well as the alarming claims that high-ranking officials, including those in the Executive Mansion, are responsible for these crimes.
Dr. White highlighted the dangers encountered by those who dare to speak out against these atrocities as he described the difficulties in learning more about and conducting investigations into ritualistic homicides.
During its civil conflicts, Liberia has a history of performing ritualistic killings, with leaders like Milton Blahyi, popularly known as “General Butt Naked,” publicly confessing to consuming children’s hearts and taking part in human sacrifices to secure victory.
The unexplained disappearance of three young men employed by the St. Moses Funeral Home for a job in Bong County in October 2020 was one of many recent examples of ritualistic killings in Liberia that Dr. White mentioned in his testimony. These young men’s remains were never delivered to their families, and investigations into their killings are still open, leading some to suspect powerful people with strong ties to the government may have been involved. He also connected ritual deaths to the previous Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration.
Dr. White requested that the Subcommittee thoroughly investigate the problem of ritualistic killings in Africa, particularly in Liberia. He pushed for legislation that may put an end to these horrible murders, highlighting the significance of outing those responsible and holding them accountable for their actions.
