Victims Tell French Appeal Trial of Cannibalism, Rape and Torture by Ulimo
The first Liberian victims, who are part of the case against convicted war criminal Kunti Kamara, testified today in Kamara’s appeal of his 2022 conviction….
Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh
Liberia Present Day Politics Enter Paris Court as Jury Hears of Passage of War Crimes Court Bill
The 4,400 miles between France and Liberia closed on Friday when present day news from Liberia made it into the appeal hearing here of convicted war criminal Kunti Kamara….
Judge Weighs Defense Motion To Abandon Kamara War Crimes Appeal in France
Defense lawyers in the appeal of Kunti Kamara of his 2022 conviction for crimes against humanity, called for the trial to be abandoned on Wednesday. …
In New Line of Defense, Lawyers Tell French Court Convicted Ulimo War Criminal Was Too Young to be Held Responsible for Crimes.
On day two of Kunti Kamara’s appeal against his 2022 conviction for war crimes and crimes against humanity, Kamara’s lawyers introduced a new line of defense that could upturn proceedings against the former United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (Ulimo) commander….
Sentence of Liberian Warlord Renews Calls for Accountability for Wartime Atrocities
Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh travels to Lofa County to hear the stories of victims of Kunti Kamara, sentenced to 30 years in prison by a French war crimes court….
Foya Victims Celebrate Kamara Conviction
Evelyn Pillo points to the place where her youngest brother was killed and eaten in Ngisakonja, Lofa County by Kamara and Ulimo forces. NGISAKONJA, Lofa County – Evelyn Pillo points to the spot where her father’s house once sat. It was here that her family endured the horrors that, she says, haunt them to this…
Liberia’s First-time Voters Overwhelmingly Back a War Crimes Court Survey Finds
As Liberia commemorates 20 years since the end of the civil conflict that left devastated the country and left 250,000 people dead, a survey of first-time voters conducted in two of the country’s biggest counties found overwhelming support for a court….
Victims of Liberian Warlord Convicted in France Celebrate Verdict
After a nearly four-week trial in the Paris Court of Appeal Kamara was found guilty of torture, barbarism and complicity crimes against humanity this week and was sentenced to life in prison. As evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh reports for Okay FM and PrimeFM Kunti’s victims in Foya say the French court’s ruling is long overdue justice…
Foya Victims Celebrate Kamara Conviction
NGISAKONJA, Lofa County – Evelyn Pillo points to the spot where her father’s house once sat. It was here that her family endured the horrors that, she says, haunt them to this day. In 1993 when troops with the United Liberia Movement of Liberia (Ulimo) took control of this area for four months Pillo says…
Kunti K War Crimes Trial Begins In France
PARIS, France —The trial of Kunti Kamara, a former battlefront commander for the United Liberation Movement of Liberia, began Monday at the French Court of Appeals for crimes against humanity, torture and acts of barbarism allegedly committed in Liberia between 1993 and 1994. Known as “Kunti-K” among other war names, the 48-year-old is being prosecuted…
Will Liberia Finally Ban Female Genital Cutting?
Listen here: Liberia is one of just three West African nations where female genital cutting is legal. New Narratives’ Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh finds strong resistance to the bill from traditional leaders and little political will to challenge them. At the same time membership of traditional societies is plummeting.This story was a collaboration with Ok FM…
As Membership Plummets Traditional Leaders Resort to Kidnapping, Forced Genital Cutting, and Extortion
In part two of this two-part series with New Narratives, Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh finds Liberians are abandoning the Sande traditional society leading some leaders to resort to kidnapping and forced cutting. MOUNT BARCLAY, Montserrado – Deborah Parker was 15 when she was sent to a “Bush school” run by the Sande traditional society in her home…
A New Bill to Ban Female Genital Cutting Looks Set for Defeat Even as Liberians Abandon the Practice
Liberia is one of just three West African nations where female genital cutting is legal. In this two-part series with New Narratives Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh finds strong resistance to the bill from traditional leaders and little political will to challenge them. At the same time Sande’s membership is plummeting. MOUNT BARCLAY, Montserrado – 18-year-old Dearest is one…
2022, A Bad Year for Victims of Child Rape
Martu Yardolo had just turned 17 when she says she was given a drug hidden in a drink and gang raped by three men. It was the night of her birthday. Yardolo was looking forward to celebrating with her friends. Instead but it ended in violence that has destroyed her world Commentary by Evelyn Kpadeh…
Farmers Say Food Crisis is Looming From Climate Change
The impacts of climate change are no longer possible to ignore. Wildfires in California and Australia; devastating flooding in Asia, make headlines every day. Rich countries battle over plans to solve it.Meanwhile poor countries like Liberia are on the frontlines, facing rise sea levels, higher temperatures, more extreme weather that are threatening people’s health and…
Farmers Say Food Crisis is Looming from Climate Change
SINYEA, Bong County – After two years of poor harvests the Sumo family was nervous this year. Rain had been unpredictable. The sun felt hotter. The soil on their five-hectare plot here was dry. They planted bitter ball, pumpkin, pepper, corn, okra and rice and followed the rules they had followed their whole lives as subsistence…
Rescued From Bush School, Girls Detail Female Genital Cutting; Mother Pursues Justice
In the last few years the Liberian government has enacted a range of efforts to combat violence against women and girls. A new domestic violence law, a National Road Map and President George Weah’s announcement of a two million dollar national emergency fund, have done little to stop the violence. It continues right under the…
Rescued Girls Describe Female Genital Cutting; Mothers Pursue Justice
The three girls, all high school students, say they were abducted by traditional leaders in September and taken by force to the Sande without the consent of their parents. They spent six terrifying weeks at the Bush school before their desperate mothers finally discovered their location and rescued them….
Farmers Say Food Crisis is Looming from Climate Change
The impacts of climate change are no longer possible to ignore. Wildfires in California and Australia; devastating flooding in Asia, make headlines every day. Rich countries battle over plans to solve it.Meanwhile poor countries like Liberia are on the frontlines, facing rise sea levels, higher temperatures, more extreme weather that are threatening people’s health and…
Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh visits accused “war criminal” Alieu Kosiah’s Liberia stronghold – Part 2
As Liberian rebel commander Alieu Kosiah faces a war crimes trial in Switzerland, Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh visits his civil war stronghold of Foya. She speaks to survivors about the extent of Kosiah’s alleged looting and love of money, that got him the war name “Physical Cash.”…
Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh visits accused “war criminal” Alieu Kosiah’s Liberia stronghold – Part 1
Liberia’s civil war ended 18 years ago, but some of the child soldiers from that conflict are still fighting. It’s a battle not against human enemies, but against drugs and the addiction that has devasted their lives ever since the war.A series of efforts to rehabilitate former child soldiers have mostly failed. Drug trafficking through…