Liberia War Crimes Court: Memorial Exclusion Sparks Controversy

• The Office for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia and war victims were excluded from the November 6 unveiling of the nation's first civil war memorial.
• Executive Director Cllr. Jallah A. Barbu called the exclusion "a shock and unacceptable," stressing the need for victim participation in memorialization efforts.
• The OEWECCL operates under Executive Order No. 131, mandated to establish war crimes and anti-corruption courts.
• President Joseph Nyuma Boakai presented the memorial as a national symbol of healing, but acknowledged a memorial alone cannot heal the nation.
• A Deputy Information Minister redirected inquiries about the exclusion to another ministry without explanation.

This incident highlights potential political friction and a lack of coordination within the Liberian government regarding transitional justice initiatives.

Liberia's inaugural civil war memorial, unveiled on November 6, has become the focal point of a significant dispute, as the very office tasked with establishing a war crimes court for the nation, alongside war victims and survivors, reported their exclusion from the ceremony. The Office for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia (OEWECCL) publicly denounced the oversight, labeling it "a shock and unacceptable" that those the monument is intended to honor were not present for its debut. This incident highlights potential political friction and a lack of coordination within the Liberian government regarding transitional justice initiatives.

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai presided over the unveiling, framing the memorial as a national emblem for remembrance, healing, and reconciliation following Liberia's 14 years of civil conflict. The event, themed "Honoring the Past, Celebrating Peace, and Inspiring the Next Generation," saw the President address families of the deceased, assuring them their loved ones would not be forgotten and that the nation owed them truth and remembrance. However, he also cautioned that a memorial alone could not fully heal a nation. Despite the presence of various dignitaries, including representatives from the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia, the Federation of Liberian Youths, traditional leaders, and international partners, the absence of key stakeholders has drawn sharp criticism.

The OEWECCL, established by President Boakai himself under Executive Order No. 131, possesses a clear mandate to spearhead efforts for creating both a war crimes court and an anti-corruption court in Liberia. Despite this crucial role in the nation's transitional justice framework, the office stated it was deliberately excluded from the memorial's unveiling at the Executive Mansion. Executive Director Cllr. Jallah A. Barbu reiterated the office's dismay, describing the exclusion as "a shock and unacceptable," emphasizing that representatives for war victims, survivors, and persons with disabilities were similarly left out.

Cllr. Barbu articulated a fundamental concern: while the Executive Mansion holds the authority to initiate national programs, the act of memorializing Liberia's devastating civil wars cannot be treated as an exclusive government undertaking. He stressed the imperative for those whose lives were profoundly altered by the conflicts to have a meaningful voice in how the country chooses to remember these traumatic events. The OEWECCL warned that a memorial failing to adequately incorporate the perspectives of those who endured the conflict risks becoming merely a monument to the conflict itself, rather than a genuine national space conducive to truth, remembrance, healing, and reconciliation. The office, while welcoming the decision to construct a national memorial, questioned the manner of its introduction and urged the Executive Mansion to reconsider its approach, advocating for broad national consultations involving war victims, survivors, persons with disabilities, and communities most severely impacted by the wars.

Inquiries directed to Deputy Information Minister Daniel O. Sando regarding the exclusion of the OEWECCL and victim representatives, and whether President Joseph Nyuma Boakai was aware of the situation or if the government would revisit its strategy, met with an uninformative response. Sando simply redirected all questions to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, offering no explanation for why that particular ministry should address matters concerning the memorial's unveiling. This lack of transparency further fuels concerns about coordination and communication within the administration on sensitive justice and reconciliation issues.

Looking ahead, the administration has announced that construction of the Civil War Memorial Wall is slated to commence in mid-2027. This significant project is planned for Bali Island in Monrovia and is intended to be linked with the Liberia Peace, Reconciliation, and Memorial Museum, though details regarding the museum's steering committee remain incomplete in the public record. The involvement of Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti and retired Maj. Gen. Daniel Dee Ziankahn Jr., chairman of the ECOMOG Memorial Committee, as speakers at the unveiling ceremony underscores the government's official endorsement of the initiative, even as the controversy surrounding victim participation persists.

This incident highlights potential political friction and lack of coordination within the Liberian government regarding transitional justice initiatives. Lawyers advising on human rights, international criminal law, or reconciliation efforts in Liberia should monitor how the Boakai administration navigates the establishment of war and economic crimes courts, as such exclusions could undermine the legitimacy and effectiveness of future legal processes and victim participation.

Source: Original reporting via The Liberian Investigator