Liberia Launches Nationwide Outreach Campaign for War and Economic Crimes Courts

Strategic Insights -

The Office for the War and Economics Crimes Court launched a nationwide outreach campaign in Liberia, aiming to bring awareness of the proposed courts to every corner of the country. The campaign, launched by Jallah Barbu, the executive director of the Office, despite lacking $US2 million in funding promised by President Boakai in April, will use traditional media, local languages, drama, music, and social media to inform Liberians about the courts. The event drew victims and survivors, students, youth leaders, and senior government officials who expressed their commitment to supporting the campaign.

Key Takeaways:

  • The outreach campaign aims to inform Liberians about the proposed courts, which will try war crimes, economic crimes, and corruption cases, using a series of activities including traditional media, local languages, drama, music, and social media.
  • The campaign will be led by Jallah Barbu, the executive director of the Office for the War and Economics Crimes Court, and will involve outreach teams visiting nearby villages and remote areas to cover all communities in the country.
  • The campaign is being conducted despite the Office still awaiting $US2 million in funding promised by President Boakai in April.
  • The campaign has drawn support from various organizations, including the United Nations, which has applauded the effort to inform Liberians about the proposed courts.
  • The anti-corruption court will be operational by November 2026, with the war and economic crimes court following a year later, according to the roadmap submitted to President Boakai in May.
  • The draft statute for the anti-corruption court is expected to be submitted to President Boakai in September.
  • The chairman of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights, Dempster Brown, has urged the Legislature to make corruption charges non-bailable in the proposed anti-corruption court.
  • The call to make corruption charges non-bailable has elicited strong support from the audience and speakers at the program, with executives from the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and the solicitor general also supporting the move.
  • The anti-corruption court is expected to bring a new level of accountability to government officials and institutions accused of corruption.
  • Corruption has long plagued Liberia, causing an estimated 250,000 deaths during the civil wars, and millions of people were displaced.

Statistics:

  • $US2 million: The amount of funding promised by President Boakai to the Office for the War and Economics Crimes Court in April, which has not yet been received.
  • November 2026: The expected operational date of the anti-corruption court.
  • 2026: The year the war and economic crimes court is expected to become operational, one year after the anti-corruption court.
  • $US1 million: The value of property that government officials have accumulated in a single year, according to the Liberia's solicitor general.
  • 250,000: The estimated number of people killed during the civil wars in Liberia.
  • 22 years: The duration since the civil wars in Liberia ended.
  • 2024: The year a Transparency International report acknowledged Liberia had made "marginal progress" in fighting corruption.

Sources:

  • "Liberia's war-crimes trial: War-crimes court office submits roadmap to President Boakai with 2026 start date for economic crimes court" by FrontPageAfrica (https://frontpageafricaonline.com/liberia-war-crimes-trial/war-crimes-court-office-submits-roadmap-to-president-boakai-with-2026-start-date-for-economic-crimes-court/).
  • "Liberia makes marginal progress in fighting corruption" by Transparency International (https://cental.org.lr/index.php/documents/media-center/news/item/143-liberia-makes-marginal-progress-by-moving-2-points-up-the-cpi-ladder-but).
  • "Human Rights Watch: Corruption Fuelled Liberia's Civil Wars" by Human Rights Watch (https://www.hrw.org/legacy/backgrounder/africa/liberia0905/7.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com).