Monrovia, Liberia – The elections and reelection of prominent warlords and individuals charged with war and economic crimes at different levels of the national legislature in Liberia on October 10, 2023, have drawn the extreme concern of the Coalition for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court.
The coalition, which consists of thirty pro-democracy organisations, civil society and human rights organisations, religious and faith-based establishments, traditional leaders, women’s and youth groups, and other groups, also conveyed dissatisfaction to the electorate regarding the election and reelection of war and economic crime suspects to public office.
The alliance represents the resolution from the national conference of justice advocates, traditional leaders, civil society groups, war victims, the human rights community, and faith-based organisations that was adopted in April 2023 and lays out the “path to achieving accountability for past crimes in Liberia.”
Lead Campaigner Adama Dempster of the coalition addressed a press conference after a meeting in Monrovia over the weekend. He described the elections of former warlords to the legislature as a “continual road block” that has prevented the passage of a bill creating the war and economic court over time.
He claimed that the election and reelection of these people tends to impede the pursuit of justice, accountability, and the support for the establishment of a war and economic crime court in Liberia. The coalition reaffirmed its dedication to seeking justice and responsibility for both survivors of the war and victims, notably women and young people who were victims of horrible crimes committed by warlords and rebel groups in Liberia.
The group urged Liberians to remember that these candidates’ elections went against the July 2018 United Nations Human Rights Committee final observations, which urged Liberia to guarantee the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights’ implementation.
The majority of the 2009 recommendations made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission have not been implemented, which has been lamented by justice campaigners, human rights, faith-based organisations, and traditional leaders.
According to the CSO coalition, these people’s election and reelection serve as a surefire way to maintain Liberia’s culture of impunity and serve as the primary cause undermining the nation’s rule of law. In order to achieve accountability for past crimes and advance justice in Liberia, Dempster called on the government of Liberia, regional organisations, international human rights organisations, and the international community to improve democracy and the rule of law.
The UN Committee expressed concern that none of the people accused of committing egregious war crimes and abuses of human rights detailed in the TRC findings had been prosecuted, and that several of those people currently hold or have held senior positions in the government.
The UN Committee further recommended that the Liberian government guarantee that anyone suspected of committing war crimes and gross human rights violations be impartially investigated, charged, prosecuted, or punished according to the seriousness of the acts committed, irrespective of their status or any domestic immunity laws.
The international community also recommended to the government that anyone found to have committed egregious war crimes and human rights violations be barred from holding any official post or public office.
Reported by: Augustine Octavius
Contact: +231777463963
Email: augustineoctavius@gmail.com
