Author: Anthony Stephens

MONROVIA, Liberia—A man accused of trafficking women to Oman has been rearrested and detained on the directive of a local court in Monrovia nearly two weeks after he was released because prosecutors had not brought a case against him in the specified time. One of his alleged victims had told prosecutors she would no longer testify against him.

A coalition of civil society organizations has released a scathing report accusing the Liberian operation of Bridge International Academies, an offshoot of New Globe Schools, the US-based for-profit company, of conflicts of interest, and a lack of transparency and accountability in its management of Liberia’s public schools.

MONROVIA, Liberia— One accused trafficker has been released on bail and other cases look set to collapse as funding for the prosecution of human trafficking cases has been slashed.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa—Apartheid was a vicious system of racism and racial separation that ended 30 years ago here, just as Liberia was winding down its first civil war. Since then, South Africa has emerged as an economic powerhouse that implemented a Truth and Reconciliation process that activists, economists, and journalists credit with moving the country toward a more prosperous, equitable and inclusive society. Activists say Liberia has much to learn from that experience.

Monrovia — Finland’s Court of Appeal has affirmed a lower court’s acquittal of Gibril Massaquoi, an ex-commander of Sierra Leone’s Revolutionary United Front (RUF), who was prosecuted for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Liberia’s second civil war between 1999-2003, ending a marathon judicial process that began in 2021.

MONROVIA, Liberia—Ahead of his inauguration as Liberia’s 26th President next month Joseph Boakai faces growing pressure from human rights advocates to ensure the prosecution of alleged war criminals including his key ally Senator Prince Johnson.

BAILA, Bong County, Liberia—Sara sits under a palava hut, her face overwhelmed by sorrow. Now 58, she recalls through tears, the trauma and suffering she says that she and her family suffered here in 1994 at the direction of Saturday Tuah, an alleged commander with the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL).

MONROVIA, Liberia — French authorities have charged Saturday Tuah, an alleged Liberian warlord with crimes against humanity. Tuah allegedly committed the crimes as a commander for the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), in Liberia’s first civil war between 1989-1996. Although Tuah was initially arrested, he’s been temporarily released. Tuah will make appearances to the authorities when the need arises. Believed to be in his late 50s, Tuah is barred from travelling out of France during this period. His indictment has been celebrated by justice advocates. “It should serve as a warning for warlords the government that justice does not…

MONROVIA, Liberia—Liberian Nobel Peace prize laureate Leymah Gbowee urged Liberian voters not to elect alleged warlords in October’s elections at one of two events held Friday to commemorate 20 years since the signing of the Accra Peace Agreement that brought an end to 14 years of conflict in 2003.

MONROVIA, Liberia—Friday marks twenty years since the official end of Liberia’s brutal civil wars that claimed the lives of estimated 250,000 people. Local and international human rights advocates are holding a conference in Monrovia to commemorate the signing of the Accra Peace Agreement on August 18, 2003. But instead of calling the intervening period “peace” the advocates insist it is only “stability” as long as Liberia does not hold those responsible for the wars to account.