Monrovia — At long last, the move to prosecute major actors in Liberia’s 14 years of civil unrest has received a huge boost as President Joseph Boakai on Thursday signed Executive Order #131 to Establish the office of a War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia.
“Let the word go forth that we will remain firm in our stand against injustice and impunity and that we have no doubt that this move will go a long way in helping to restore respectability and integrity to this country and to a reconciled and united people,” the President declared in the executive order.
President Boakai’s move comes after both Houses of Representatives and Senate adopted a resolution to establish the War and Economic Crimes Court more than two decades after the end of the war.
Speaking at the Tea House on the grounds of the Executive Mansion, President Boakai said the direct representation of the Liberian people have spoken by their votes on the passage of the resolution to establish the War and Economic Crimes Court adding that his part is to act now.
“I acknowledge the historic move by our National Legislature—both the House of Representatives and House of Senate—to reach separate, and then, a joint resolution urging the nation to take tangible steps towards paving the way to bringing a just, healed, and reconciled finality to the issues of that ugly period of our past. The direct representatives of the people spoke through their collective and overwhelming vote as they passed the resolution. And so, we must act, and act now!” -President Boakai said.
He added: “On behalf of the Republic, I register sincere thanks to you, our legislators, and also to the justice and peace advocacy community, the interfaith community, as well as the various shades of victims who have for so long restrained themselves with the faith that at long last justice will one day arrive.”
He added that to signify in the clearest possible terms the commitment to justice and the rule of law, as well as to amplify the affirmation that impunity will not be allowed to stand under his watch, he finds it only prudent and fair to embrace and further bolster the efforts that the National Legislature has so courageously invested in.
The Liberian Leader stressed that he is pleased to begin the process that will set in motion deliberate action steps toward bringing justice and closure to the scars and memories of the tragic and violent misadventure into more than fourteen years of senseless civil conflict.
According to him, through the several years following the silencing of the guns, Liberians have endured downpours of agony, something he says is a clarion call from either victims or alleged perpetrators.
“For peace and harmony to have a chance to prevail, justice and healing must perfect the groundwork,” he said.
President Boakai added: “This nation needs to be united in this resolve to ferret the causes and effects of the violence that was visited upon this Land to justly apportion the blame and rewards wherever they may lie.”
He furthers: “It is in view of this that I am today, Thursday, May 2, 2024, signing and issuing Executive Order No. 131, establishing the office of a War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia.”
He stressed that his government remains firm in its stand against injustice and impunity. President Boakai says there is no doubt that the move will go a long way in helping to restore respectability and integrity to Liberia.
“In our resolve to Think Liberia, Love Liberia, and Build Liberia, we urge all to lend this noble effort all the support it needs so that, once and for all, we can keep our eyes on the forward march, and not remain stuck in the ugly memories of our unfortunate past,” he said.
U.S. and EU welcome move
Minutes after the event, the United States Embassy near Monrovia and the European Union members states weighed in on President Boakai signing the Executive Order number 131 establishing the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court.
In a statement, the Chargé d’affaires Catherine Rodriguez praised President Boakai for what she termed as a historic and courageous step to bring justice and accountability for the atrocities committed during the Liberian civil wars.
“The United States firmly supports Liberia’s establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court and stands ready to assist all Liberians as it moves forward,” Chargé d’affaires Rodriguez said.
The EU and its Member States present in Liberia (Germany, Ireland, France, Sweden), in a statement said: The EU and its Member States welcome these decisions taken by the Government and Legislature of Liberia contributing to the implementation of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.”
“The EU and its Member States continue to actively monitor developments as the concrete next steps of this historic Liberian-led and Liberian-owned process become clear. We are optimistic that this initiative will bring an end to impunity for war and economic crimes, while promoting national reconciliation and sustainable peace.”
ECOWAS Calls for National Effort
For her part, ECOWAS Resident Representative Josephine Nkrumah praised the Liberian Leader for his courage to sign Executive Order #131 to Establish the office of a War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia.
The next step, she says, is to see how the war and economic Crimes Court will be established in terms of its function and its implementing processes. Thus, she stressed that it is incumbent upon every Liberian to make such initiative come to a reality.
“It also depends on you as the media, the kind of message you put out there, the kind of information, education is key because it is a national effort, it is not the effort of only the effort of the national government alone. It takes all citizens to make this success, it takes all stakeholders to make this success,” Madam Nkrumah said.
She added: “One of the important steps I will love to see is deliberate and intentional circle social support to war victims and indeed to Liberian society because we know that trauma can be transferred therefore the healing of the nation is key to find lasting peace and stability for the economic development in Liberia.”
Closing the Culture of Impunity in Liberia
Also, Adama Kiatamba Dempster, like many human rights activists who were present at the event told journalists that it is a joyous day for Liberians, adding the culture impunity is going to come to an end.
According to him, it is a milestone for the many war victims and survivors that have long waited to see the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court.
