Cllr. Gongloe Demands War Crimes Court, Calls for Immediate Accountability in Liberia’s Civil War Atrocities

‎MONROVIA, LIBERIA: Prominent Human Rights Lawyer and Ex-Presidential Aspirant Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe has called for the immediate establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) to prosecute individuals accused of atrocities committed during Liberia’s civil conflicts, emphasizing that accountability is essential to national healing and sustainable peace.

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‎“Now is the time to act! Postponing or abandoning transitional justice will not protect Liberia. It will entrench backwardness. It will weaken institutions, deepen dependency, and betray future generations.” — Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe

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‎Speaking at a two-day Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Transitional Justice Conference 2026 at the E. J. Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Cllr. Gongloe warned that impunity for war crimes, sexual violence, child recruitment, and economic crimes threatens both institutional credibility and public trust.

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‎“Supporting accountability in Liberia is not charity. It is an investment in regional stability, international human security, and the integrity of international law itself.” — Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe

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‎The conference, organized by the Liberia Civil Society Initiative on Transitional Justice (LCSITJ) with support from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), convened approximately 146 participants, including survivors, lawmakers, judicial authorities, and representatives of the diplomatic corps.

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‎In his keynote address, Cllr. Gongloe highlighted that truth commissions, while vital for restoring memory and dignity, cannot replace legal accountability, stressing that any effort to grant amnesty for crimes against humanity would violate Liberia’s obligations under international law. 

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‎“Justice delayed is painful. Justice denied is dangerous,” he stated, underscoring that Liberia’s post-conflict institutions must confront past atrocities fairly, transparently, and impartially to prevent the recurrence of violence.

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‎The conference placed a strong emphasis on a survivor-centered approach, allowing victims of Liberia’s civil conflicts to share their expectations for justice, reparations, and psychosocial support.

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‎Stakeholders stressed that courts addressing transitional justice must be accessible to all victims, particularly women and young people, and that robust protection mechanisms are necessary to shield survivors and witnesses from retaliation or intimidation.

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‎Delegates warned that without credible legislation, courts risk existing only on paper or being co-opted for political purposes, undermining both national and international confidence in Liberia’s transitional justice process.

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‎Panel discussions moderated by Cllr. Bowoulo Taylor-Kelly, Vice President of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL), focused on the intersection of economic crimes and war crimes, highlighting that accountability must extend beyond combatants to include financiers and institutional actors whose corruption fueled the conflict. 

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‎The conference recommended the establishment of a National Anti-Corruption Crimes Court to ensure comprehensive justice and to strengthen institutional integrity.