Liberia’s War Crimes Court in Limbo: Five Months Without Pay
In a shocking turn of events, the staff of Liberia’s Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court have gone without pay for five months. Despite an executive order signed in May renewing the office’s mandate, not a single Liberian dollar has been disbursed to support its operations. This funding freeze has left the office struggling to meet basic obligations, including rent for its premises.
The crisis is particularly striking given President Joseph Boakai’s pledge to pursue accountability for wartime atrocities and corruption. In a speech before the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024, he recommitted Liberia to this goal, signing Executive Order #131 to extend the office’s mandate. However, more than a year later, the office remains paralyzed, undermanned, and underfunded.
Dr. Jallah Barbu, the office’s executive director, has appealed to Liberia’s faith community for support, meeting with the Faith and Justice Network in Monrovia. Bishop Samuel Quire, Chairman of the Network, has pledged to raise the matter with President Boakai and organize a nationwide awareness campaign to highlight the court’s relevance and urgency.
The Faith and Justice Network has also announced a victims’ healing initiative, which will offer trauma healing workshops, group therapy, and spiritual counseling to help victims of war regain dignity and closure. Additionally, the network plans to train 60 pastors and church leaders as "justice ambassadors" to educate the public, build trust, and advocate for justice across the country.
The court’s creation has long been a demand of war victims and civil society groups, with strong public support and recommendations from Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. However, despite this, no warlord or commander has been prosecuted in Liberia for the mass killings, torture, and sexual violence that defined the country’s civil conflicts.
International watchdogs have taken note, with six leading human rights organizations calling on President Boakai to renew Executive Order #131 and push for legislation to give the office a permanent legal foundation. The lack of progress has raised concerns that the administration may be deliberately delaying the court’s establishment to avoid difficult political conversations.
As the funding stalemate continues, civil society actors warn that Liberia could miss a rare opportunity to secure transitional justice and send a strong message that impunity will no longer be tolerated. For the thousands of Liberians who suffered during the civil wars, the continued delays are deeply painful, and the need for action is urgent. Will the government finally fulfill its commitments, or will the court remain in limbo, a symbol of Liberia’s fragile commitment to justice and accountability?
