Liberian President Signs Order for War Crimes Tribunal: Seeking Justice for Victims of Civil Wars

Liberian President Joseph Boakai has signed an executive order to establish a war crimes tribunal to provide justice for victims of Liberia’s two civil wars, characterized by widespread massacres, torture, and sexual violence. Human rights groups have described how girls were subjected to gang rape, while children were recruited to fight, often after witnessing the assassination of their parents. Successive civil wars killed around 250,000 people between 1989 and 2003. The legislation was passed by the House and Senate, signed by a majority of lawmakers, some of whom would be prosecuted.

Victims and justice activists have called for the creation of a tribunal to try those accused of war crimes for decades. In 2009, a post-war truth and reconciliation commission drew up a list of people to be prosecuted for war crimes, but the government did not act. Justice was a major issue in last year’s presidential election, which saw Boakai beat soccer great and then-president George Weah.

Liberia was established in 1822 to accommodate freed slaves from the United States, but declared itself independent 25 years later. The resolution calls on international donors to fund the court. A number of legal steps still need to be taken before an independent and effective tribunal can be established.

Human Rights Watch and other civil society groups released a joint report a year ago, calling on the Biden administration to push Liberian authorities to establish the long-awaited court and fund its operations.