Liberia: Martina Johnson, Warlord Charles Taylor Ally, Likely to Face Trial in Belgium

Summary: By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives Martina Johnson, one of the most powerful commanders of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front for Liberia (NPFL) rebel group, is expected to go on trial in Belgium next year for atrocities allegedly committed during Liberia’s first civil war. A court is considering evidence gathered during…

Liberia: War Crimes Courts Supposed to Bring Inclusive Justice But Victims Say They Are Being Excluded

It’s a mantra repeated by government officials, activists and the international community: Liberia’s victims and survivors must be at the heart of efforts to bring justice for crimes committed in the country’s long civil wars that ended in 2003. But now the office to establish the War and Economic Crimes Courts is finally taking shape, victims and survivors say they have been excluded from the process….

Liberia: Four Months After U.S. Downgrade, Amid Warning of Cut in Aid, Liberian Gov. Loses Human Trafficking Case, Prosecutors Claim Jurors Didn’t Understand the Crime

Liberia has lost a human trafficking case, four months after being downgraded to tier 2 watchlist in the 2024 annual U.S. government’s Trafficking in Persons report, amid warning by U.S. officials of a cut in “nonessential aid” if the country continues to underwhelming perform in tackling the issue….