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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
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New Narratives Liberia is recruiting a Board Treasurer

The Treasurer of the Board of Directors (the “Board Treasurer”) is an independent member of the Board of Directors (the “board”), elected annually by the Board of Directors. The Board Treasurer serves at the pleasure of the board. Position Summary As a partner to the board chair, other board members, and executive director, the Board…


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

When Domestic Violence Destroys a Family, Innocent Children Pay The Price

A five‑year‑old girl in Todee District cries for her parents after witnessing the violence that killed her mother. With her father jailed and no government support, she and her siblings are left destitute, a stark reminder that when domestic violence destroys a family, innocent children pay the price. Joyclyn Wea reports in this social media…

Joyclyn Wea
Video

A new generation of male influencers is being asked to confront violence against women and rethink what masculinity means in the social media age.

Violence against women remains a pressing issue in Liberia, but a new generation of male influencers is stepping forward to challenge harmful norms. Through EU‑backed training programs, these young men are learning to rethink masculinity in the social media age and use their platforms to promote respect, equality, and positive change. Joyclyn wea reports in…

Joyclyn Wea
Video

A new generation of male influencers is being asked to confront violence against women and rethink what masculinity means in the social media age.

By Joyclyn Wea, gender correspondent with New Narratives Summary The video lasted less than two minutes. A young woman walking through Red Light Market in Monrovia was suddenly surrounded by a group of men who tore the clothes from her body. Her offense, they claimed, was, ironically, dressing indecently. Someone filmed the attack. Within hours, the…

Joyclyn Wea
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

African Development Bank Weighs Into Carbon Trading Debate Rejecting Government Claim that a Policy Was Linked to Bank Support

The African Development Bank has firmly rejected claims that its financial support to Liberia was contingent on the country adopting a carbon trading policy. In a statement, the Bank clarified that its recent financing package focused on fiscal sustainability and governance in the mining sector, with no mention of carbon trading. “Carbon market trading decisions…

Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon
Video

African Development Bank Weighs Into Carbon Trading Debate Rejecting Government Claim that a Policy Was Linked to Bank Support

By Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon, climate and environment reporter with New Narratives Summary On the evening of April 23, a group of ministers and stakeholders – including civil society and community leaders – gathered at a hotel in Monrovia for a stakeholder dinner with the goal of approving Liberia’s draft carbon market policy. The timing was urgent, they were told….

Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon
Frontpage Africa

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