West Africa Justice Reporting Project

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.

‘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…

Anthony Stephens
Video

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…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

‘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…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

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…

Anthony Stephens
Video

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…

Anthony Stephens
Video

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…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

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. •…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

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…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

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…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

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…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

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…

Anthony Stephens
Video

Three More Defendants Plead Guilty in Liberia’s Largest Human Trafficking Trial

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives  Summary: Day three of this mammoth human trafficking trial with 57 victims and 27 defendants started with more drama as three more defendants pleaded guilty Thursday, claiming they were victims who had been coerced into recruiting others. They made the admissions in a bid to win clemency from prosecutors…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

Liberia’s War Crimes Push Revives as Boakai Receives Draft Laws After

President Joseph Boakai has now received draft laws that could pave the way for theprosecution of atrocities committed during the country’s brutal civil wars.But beneath the ceremony and symbolism lies a fierce struggle over funding, politics andaccountability — one that could determine whether Liberia finally confronts its violent past ordelays justice once again.In this collaboration…

Anthony Stephens
Radio

Rights Chief Faults Country on Corruption as U.N. Justice Training

Liberia’s human rights chief is warning that corruption is not just a governance problem — but athreat to justice and human rights.The warning comes as the United Nations begins training prosecutors and investigators to handlecorruption cases in a new way to investigate and try corruption cases for the new anticorruption andeconomic crimes courts set to…

Anthony Stephens
Radio

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

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives A stunning turn in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial unfolded Wednesday as one of the 12 defendants pleaded guilty and took the stand against her co-defendants. Moments before proceedings resumed in the morning, Shelley Jonny, dressed in a blue prison uniform, moved from the dock to address the…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

In First Day of Liberia’s Largest Human Trafficking Trial, Victim Breaks Down During Testimony and Identifies Alleged Rapist

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent and New Narratives editors Summary: One of 57 alleged victims in the country’s largest human-trafficking case broke down during her testimony in open court, crying as she described how the man she identified—Daniel Davis—raped her after putting a drug in her drink in one of the trial’s most dramatic opening moments. After…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

Jury Selection Begins in Liberia’s Largest Human Trafficking Trial as Defendants Plead Not Guilty

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent and New Narratives editors Summary: Jury selection began Monday in what prosecutors and anti-trafficking advocates describe as Liberia’s largest human trafficking case, nine months after victims, some of the country’s poorest citizens, first filed complaints against the accused perpetrators. Prosecutors and defense lawyers screened prospective jurors at Criminal Court “A” at…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

11 Indicted in Country’s Biggest Trafficking Ring After FrontPage Africa Investigation Exposed Allegations Bribes Were About to Derail the Case

A grand jury in Monrovia has indicted 11 suspects in Liberia’s biggest human trafficking case to date, after a FrontPage Africa/New Narratives investigation revealed attempts to bribe officials to weaken charges. Prosecutors say the accused lured 57 victims with false promises of jobs abroad, then held them captive in compounds where they were beaten, starved,…

Anthony Stephens
Video

11 Indicted in Country’s Biggest Trafficking Ring After FrontPage Africa Investigation Exposed Allegations Bribes Were About to Derail the Case

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent and New Narratives editors Summary: A grand jury in Monrovia has indicted 11 people accused of operating a sprawling human trafficking ring that prosecutors say lured dozens of Liberians with promises of jobs abroad before holding them captive, extorting money from their families and subjecting some victims to rape and torture….

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa

After Delays and Bribery Allegations, Liberia’s Largest Human Trafficking Case Goes to Trial

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent and New Narratives editors Ten of the 11 people accused in what prosecutors and anti-trafficking experts describe asLiberia’s largest human trafficking case are scheduled to go on trial Wednesday, weeks after aMontserrado County grand jury indicted them over the alleged trafficking and exploitation of57 poor people from seven of Liberia’s 15…

Anthony Stephens
Frontpage Africa