Liberia War Crimes Court Bill Delayed to 2027, Lacks Budget Funding

Lawmakers will not take up the bill to create Liberia's war crimes court until January 2027, and the proposed US$1.2 billion national budget sets aside no money for the court. That is according to Cllr. Jallah A. Barbu, who heads the office preparing for it. Cllr. Barbu, executive director of the Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia, said Monday that his office learned through the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives that lawmakers were prioritizing other national matters. He said the delay could undermine efforts to set up a court intended to try serious crimes committed during Liberia's civil wars. He spoke at the dedication of a public awareness billboard for the court in West Point, central Monrovia. Cllr. Barbu challenged lawmakers to say whether they had consulted their constituents about the court during their legislative break. He said the court requires public engagement and legislative action because of what it means for victims, survivors and the country's accountability process. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines He also said the budget's lack of a specific allocation leaves open the question of how the government intends to pay for the court. A court would need money for investigations, prosecutions, judicial administration, and protection of witnesses and victims. Barbu's office has its own funding. In May 2026, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai renewed the office's mandate through Executive Order No. 164, which provides an annual appropriation of US$2 million through the Ministry of Justice. The order directs the office to develop implementation frameworks and to engage the Legislature and potential funding partners. That money covers preparations, not the court itself. President Boakai submitted the bill to create the War and Economic Crimes Court to the Legislature in May 2026, along with a separate bill for a National Anti-Corruption Court. Neither court can be established until lawmakers pass the legislation. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, set up to investigate abuses during Liberia's 14 years of civil conflict, called for accountability for those responsible for serious violations. Victims and survivors have made the court a central demand. In August, Cllr. Barbu's office responded to journalists' concerns about the pace of legislative action, saying lawmakers must consider the bills while the office continues preparing. Read the original article on Liberian Investigator . AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals , representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica . To address comments or complaints, please Contact us . AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 600 news and information items daily from over 90 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC. Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy . We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.