West Africa Justice Reporting Project

Since 2017 New Narratives has supported West African journalists to cover groundbreaking universal jurisdiction cases that have held perpetrators accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity to account in Europe and North America.

Journalists from Liberia, Gambia and Sierra Leone have travelled to the United States and Europe to cover trials of accused perpetrators for audiences across West Africa. They have also covered the quest for justice, reparation and reconciliation in all its forms, at home. Advocates have credited our reporting with the public support that led Liberian President Joseph Boakai to commit to holding a war crimes court, 22 years after the end of the war.

Hassan Bility, Liberian justice advocate.

“New Narratives, I expect and hope, should keep up the world and the Liberian people informed of developments every step of the way. I believe NN deserves a justice prize. Your journalism gave Liberians hope when no one believed there was a chance.”

Massa Washington, former commissioner with the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

”New Narratives has played a pivotal role in assisting Liberians to understand the importance of establishing a war crimes court and why holding alleged perpetrators accountable is good for Liberia’s stability, peace, security and growth. New Narratives is the “window” through which Liberians and the rest of the world are informed and educated about transitional justice processes concerning Liberia. Through the dedication, commitment and hard work from project staff, New Narratives is playing a pivotal role in shaping the narrative in transitional justice reporting on Liberia. The consistency and quality of New Narratives’s coverage of events ensures that  Liberians are continuously equipped with appropriate, factual information to assist them understand what is happening which ultimately bolstered their courage to finally commit to establishing the Court.⁠ ⁠Continue to play the role you’re playing.”

The project has been funded by the Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and Australia Aid.


Court Hands Down Longest-Ever 50-Year Prison Terms in Liberia’s Largest Human Trafficking Case, Awards US$120,000 in Restitution to Victims

“The defendants deceived their victims, recruited them, harbored them, exploited them, sexually abused them and took money from them as registration fees,” Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie said during his more than two-hour reading of a 36-page judgment. “These are all critical elements of trafficking in persons. And it is the considered judgment of this court…

Court Hands Down Longest-Ever 50-Year Prison Terms in Liberia’s Largest Human Trafficking Case, Awards US$120,000 in Restitution to Victims

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: A Liberian court awarded US$120,000 in restitution to victims and imposed the country’s longest-ever human trafficking sentences, sentencing eight defendants to 50 years and three others to 20 in Liberia’s largest trafficking case. The court ordered banks and telecommunications companies to identify and freeze assets belonging…

Liberia’s Largest Trafficking Trial Ends in Convictions for All Defendants

A 12-member jury in Monrovia has unanimously convicted eight defendants in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial, finding them guilty of trafficking 57 victims after just 23 minutes of deliberation. The case, which involved harrowing testimony of beatings, torture, rape, and financial exploitation, was seen as a landmark test of Liberia’s justice system amid allegations of…

Liberia’s Largest Trafficking Trial Ends in Convictions for All Defendants: Outcome seen as measure of justice system under international scrutiny for bribery allegations

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: Jurors hearing Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial on Monday unanimously found the remaining defendants guilty, bringing to a close a nearly month-long trial marked by emotional testimony from victims and fierce legal battles between prosecutors and defense lawyers. The 12-member jury returned its verdict after just…

Breaking News: Liberia’s Largest Trafficking Trial Ends in Convictions for All Defendants

Outcome seen as measure of justice system under international scrutiny for bribery allegations By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives Liberia’s Largest Trafficking Trial Ends in Convictions for All Defendants A jury convicted all eight defendants on all charges Monday in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial, delivering a unanimous verdict after roughly 20…

State Closes Case After Subpoenaed Witnesses Say Company Linked to Accused Traffickers Is Not Tax Compliant; Final Arguments and Ruling Set for Monday

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary:  Prosecutors rested after calling three subpoenaed government witnesses to challenge key claims made by the defense. Witnesses testified that Infinity Millennium was registered with the government but had not paid taxes or declared income, and that QNet was not registered to import pharmaceutical products into Liberia….

 Ex-President Sirleaf Backs Specialized Anti-Corruption Court, Urges Boakai to Address “the Several Scandals That Plague the Society” 

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia’s and Africa’s first democratically elected female president, on Wednesday urged President Joseph Boakai to intensify the fight against corruption, calling on him to address what she described as “the several scandals that plague the society” while backing the creation of a Specialized National…

Jurors, Defendants and Alleged Victims Visit Site at Center of Largest Human Trafficking Trial as Case Enters Crucial Phase

Jurors in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial visited the compound in Margibi County where 57 alleged victims say they were held, abused, and forced to recruit relatives and friends into the trafficking network. Prosecutors argue the site was the base of an organization that lured people with false promises of jobs abroad before subjecting them…

Senior Police Investigator Denies Taking Defendants’ Property as Largest Trafficking Trial Reaches Closing Stages

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives Summary: · The judge rejected a defense request to disregard a jury inspection report on the alleged crime scene. · Prosecutors opened their rebuttal case with seven witnesses, including victims, as senior police investigator Enoch Dunbar denied taking defendants’ property. · Additional rebuttal witnesses disputed testimony from defendants as the…

Jurors, Defendants and Alleged Victims Visit Site at Center of Largest Human Trafficking Trial as Case Enters Crucial Phase

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: ·  Jurors, defendants and alleged victims in Liberia’s biggest human trafficking trial visited the compound where all 57 victims said they were held, marking a pivotal moment as the trial enters its final stages. ·  The inspection revealed the layout of the compound, which defendants insist was a…

‘I DID NOT TRAFFIC’: Defendant Says as Third Witness Corroborates Testimony That Vice President’s Security Inspected Alleged Trafficking Compound

Alexander Saye Plato, one of the defendants in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial, denied charges of trafficking, conspiracy, and theft, while corroborating earlier testimony that members of Vice President Jeremiah Koung’s security detail visited the compound at the center of the case. He testified that the officers came to inspect the facility after the Vice…

Senate Begins Consultations on Competing War Crimes Court Bills; Advocates Hope Outstanding Issues Can Be Resolved Before Public Hearings

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: Liberia’s Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Claims and Petitions this week began consultations on six competing bills to establish a war and economic crimes court and a national anti-corruption court, the first step in an effort to harmonize the legislation before public hearings expected to…

‘I DID NOT TRAFFIC’: Defendant Says as Third Witness Corroborates Testimony That Vice President’s Security Inspected Alleged Trafficking Compound

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: • A third defendant in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial corroborated testimony from two co-defendants that members of Vice President Jeremiah Koung’s security detail visited the compound at the center of the case. The defendants said the officers inspected the facility after Koung moved into the…

Two Defendants Deny Charges as Second Witness Corroborates Security Visit, Claims Vice President’s Guards Didn’t “Bother Anybody” at Compound at Heart of Case

Stanley Wonlebaye, one of the defendants in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial, testified that four members of Vice President Jeremiah Koung’s security detail visited the compound at the center of the case, corroborating earlier testimony from another defendant. He claimed the officers entered, were briefed on the organization’s activities, and then left without interfering, saying…

Defendant in Largest Human Trafficking Trial Denies Charges, Claims Vice President’s Security Inspected Compound at Center of Case as Court Orders Site Visit

The defendant in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial denied all charges, insisting that his compound was legitimate and even claimed that members of Vice President Jeremiah Koung’s security detail had inspected the premises. He argued that this inspection demonstrated transparency, while the court ordered a site visit to the compound at the center of the…

Two Defendants Deny Charges as Second Witness Corroborates Security Visit, Claims Vice President’s Guards Didn’t “Bother Anybody” at Compound at Heart of Case

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: • A second defendant in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial corroborated earlier testimony that four members of Vice President Jeremiah Koung’s security detail visited the compound at the center of the case and went further by claiming they “accepted” the operation after being briefed on their…

Defendant in Largest Human Trafficking Trial Denies Charges, Claims Vice President’s Security Inspected Compound at Center of Case as Court Orders Site Visit

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: • A defendant in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial testified Monday that four members of Vice President Jeremiah Koung’s security detail inspected the compound where victims were allegedly held before the vice president moved into a house nearby and found no evidence of the crimes. •…

Accused Trafficker Denies Charges, Says He Was Legally Recruiting Victims to Sell Products for Malaysian Firm Qnet

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: On day seven of Liberia’s largest human-trafficking trial, an accused perpetrator testified that he was an “independent representative” of QNet, the Malaysian e-commerce company, that has become synonymous with human trafficking throughout West Africa, undertaking legal activities recruiting people to be representatives and sellers for the…

Government Announces Probe of Allegations of Bribery in Liberia’s Largest Human Trafficking Trial

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives Liberia’s government said on Tuesday that it will investigate bribery allegations connected to the country’s largest human trafficking trial, which is now in its second week. Sumo C. Kutu Akoi, a senior human trafficking prosecutor, when asked about the prospect of a probe, told FrontPage Africa/New Narratives that…

Witness Leaves the Stand to Identify Defendants One by One, Recounts Abuse and Calls Them ‘Wicked People’ in Liberia’s Largest Human Trafficking Trial

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with  New Narratives  Summary: In a dramatic testimony in Liberia’s largest human-trafficking case, a key prosecution witness left her wooden chair in the courtroom and walked—about five steps—to the defendants’ dock  to identify the remaining men and women on trial. The witness, identified as L., to protect her from…

In Stunning Development Accused Trafficker Pleads Guilty, Testifies Against Co-Defendants in Country’s Largest Trafficking Trial

In a dramatic twist during Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial, one of the accused traffickers stunned the court by pleading guilty and testifying against her co-defendants. Her confession and cooperation mark a pivotal moment in the landmark case, which involves dozens of victims and multiple defendants, signaling a potential breakthrough in the country’s fight against…