Liberia: PYJ ‘Concerned’ as Calls for War Crimes Court Intensify

Nimba County Senator Prince Johnson has said that establishing a war crimes court will disrupt the peace in Liberia. 

“No, it doesn't scare me, it worries me because it may disrupt our peace,” he said yesterday morning in a phone interview with the Truth Breakfast Show.

Senator Johnson, one of those ex-rebel leaders who fought the 14-year civil war, argued that President Joseph Boakai should be more concerned about protecting the peace. 

“Well, the First thing I will tell all Liberians is to pray for the continued peace that we have enjoyed due to the amnesty law that was passed and printed into handbill. The Accra Peace Accord was guaranteed by this amnesty law.”

For decades, Liberians home and abroad have called for the establishment of the War Crimes and Economic Crimes Court to prosecute those responsible for the 14-year civil war. The setting of the court was a result of the Truth and Reconciliation Council. Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and George Weah made little effort toward the establishment. 

President Boakai, who is now the commander-in-chief, made a public commitment to establish the court. Senator Johnson, one of those who helped to bring Boakai to the presidency, appears terrified by President Boakai’s commitment. 

Activists and advocates have argued that the establishment of the War and Economics Crimes Court is a step towards ending impunity for those who have committed war and economic crimes. Dr. Beth Van Schaack, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice (GCJ) is here in Monrovia meeting with civil society organizations, the executive, and members of the House of Representatives to discuss the court’s establishment.   

“But if the time has come for President Joseph Boakai and his team to remove or tamper with the amnesty law then he’s tampering with the people’s future,” Senator Johnson said. 

Johnson and seven others including the former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, now Senator of Margibi County, Nathaniel F. McGill, as well as Rivercess County Senator Bill Twehway, were sanctioned by the US government for acts of corruption. 

“If there is any reason for a disruption, it will be difficult to end. I only fought for nine months, and I have every document I have available to show you that shows you that the TRC is a bogus document,” he said.

According to him, the ongoing efforts to establish the war and economic crimes court are targeting him. “Every medium, Prince Johnson.” 

“Though you mention me every time in every news medium there are other generals, there are other colonels, majors, and there are other officers who protected and worked along with their commanders, and they are holding consultative meetings even now, as I speak to you.” 

“True, true, Nimba has more generals, Nimba County has more officers, Nimba County has more combatants because it was their county that was declared enemy of the state by the previous regime.”

On Monday, March 4, 2024, members of the House of Representatives of the 55th Legislature began signing a resolution calling for the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia.

“Why do you sign a resolution when there is an amnesty law passed by the legislature?” Johnson asked.  

When asked if he still supports President Boakai, he said “I support the Boakai regime.  [If] he gives us more appointments or not; [if] he signed the war crimes court or not, I support Boakai.”

“Is my name everywhere? They are targeting me.”

“The President has refused to even pick up my phone call. So we are watching.”  

“My people in Nimba were slaughtered in cold blood and we fought in defense, and you want to go after us. The former with all of our supporters in Nimba where they are listening to you and you think they'll grab me here and take me and give me false charges?  We just pray for peace.”

Dr. Schaack, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice (GCJ) said the Liberians have longed for the establishment of a war and economic crimes court so people who committed crimes can pay. 

Schaack, who was on a visiting trip to Sierra Leone and The Gambia, said she had to include Liberia in her trip after reading President Boakai’s inaugural speech where he pledged full support for the court.

“I was originally going to go to Sierra Leone for the Legacy conference and then The Gambia. Then I read President Boakai’s inaugural speech and I said okay, I need to go to Liberia as well,” she said in an OK FM interview.

“It is fantastic to see him committing to the establishment of a war crimes and Economic Crimes Court and I thought I have to add Liberia to my trips.”

“Well, we know that the Liberian people have been asking for accountability for the war crimes and other atrocities that happened during your two civil wars. There has been no accountability locally to the extent that anyone has been responsible in the court of law, it has been outside of Liberia and Liberians need to see justice be done here.”