The establishment of a war and economic crimes court in Liberia is successfully taking course, with the heads of two branches of government—the President of Republic, Joseph N. Boakai, and the Speaker of the House of Representative, Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa—endorsing the instrument.
On Monday, March 4, 2024, Speaker Koffa announced that he and the leadership of the House of Representatives met with the Ambassador-at-Large of the Global Criminal Justice (J/GCJ), Beth Van Schaach, and her team at his Capitol Building office, at which time he made it clear to her that he supports justice for war victims.
However, Speaker Chambers pointed out that they at the House will not be rash or insensitive to the concerns of people who feel targeted. “This will be done right, and if it is what our people want, their elected representatives will say so through their votes,” Speaker Chamber observed.
He maintained that, as Speaker he will make sure the debate is thorough, and that it considers everything: reconciliation, maintenance of peace and fairness to alleged perpetrators.
Also, two other members of the House of Representatives, Montserrado County’s district #6 lawmaker, Samuel Enders, and Montserrado County’s district #3 lawmaker, Sumo K Mulbah, have announced that they have signed the resolution to create a war crimescourt.
Representative Enders wrote that this is his second time signing a resolution to establish a war crimes court in Liberia. “Today I signed the war and economic crimescourt resolution for the second time. This is about justice for our country, not an attack on an individual,”Representative Enders noted.
This development comes only a few days after a video, featuring a conversation between the former Chief Investigator for the Special Court for Sierra Leone, Dr. Allen White, and President Boakai, circulated on social media.
In that conversation, President Boakai reiterated his commitment for the establishment of a war and economic crimes court. “Well, Alan, you know in every country, and especially a country that boasts of independent for 176 years…and you know very well that it is because of the impunity, the disrespect and disregard for justice that have created all the fuse in this country, and we believe we have to lay this to rest. Let all the facts be known; that people who think that they are innocent prove their case so that we can lay this to rest so that this country can move forward. It’s not a witch-hunt; it’s a matter of testifying to what you know and what you don’t, so that forgiveness can be done on the basis of knowledge and truth. And that’s what we’re talking about.”
Dr. White replied, “Mr. President, you have our full commitment to help realize that, and what we did in Sierra Leone… we were able to move the people on to the reconciliation face, because, you’re right, when people walk around and see impunity—people that have never been held to account and self-enriching themselves—it basically rubs in their faces regularly. So the fact that you are stepping up, taking this leadership role, I can tell you so far the people of Liberia are ecstatic about it and we are here to help you facilitate this properly, independently, and let the prosecutor follow the evidence where it goes. Not me, not you; wherever the evidence follows, and have it done with international standards, and it will be done properly and transparently.”
According to information, President Boakai’s recent trip to Ghana was to allegedly negotiate that Ghana serves as host for the war crimes court for Liberia.
It is said that perpetrators of heinous crimes during the country’s 14-year brutal fratricidal conflict will be tried and, if convicted, serve their sentences in the Ghanaian seaport town of Winneba, a fishing town and capital of Effutu Municipal District in the Central Region of Southern Ghana.
Negotiations are said to be concluding over the venue, as the Unity Party (UP) administration finalizes plans with international stakeholders for the establishment of the court.