The long-delayed trial over thousands of bags of Saudi-donated rice meant for vulnerable and disaster-affected Liberians is underway in Monrovia, but flood victims in River Cess say justice must go beyond the courtroom. Saudi Arabia donated 29,000 bags of rice in 2023, and prosecutors allege that 25,054 bags, valued at about US$425,918, were stolen, misapplied or improperly distributed. The defendants have pleaded not guilty and are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Meanwhile, residents of flood-hit communities such as ITI Village and Glanyah Town say much of the promised assistance never reached them, and they want any recovered public assets to ultimately benefit the people the aid was intended to help.

Joyclyn Wea reports in this social media Video. To read more about this story click this link: Liberia: Saudi Rice Trial Goes to Court, But Victims Say They Still Want the Help They Were Promised – FrontPageAfrica

This story was produced by New Narratives as part of the Investigating Liberia project. The funder had no say in the story’s content.