Beth Van Schaack, US Ambassador for Global Criminal Justice in the Biden administration has left the post as the second Trump administration took power on Monday. In a farewell message Ambassador Van Schaack called her work in Liberia, The Gambia and other countries “impactful,” and applauded the human rights defenders who had worked with her during her three years in the role.
By Anthony Stephens with New Narratives
In a short video and statement on her personal LinkedIn page, Ambassador Van Schaack highlighted her achievements in transitional justice. She said her travels to Liberia, The Gambia, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Bangladesh and Colombia among others were meant “to promote the establishment of inclusive, victim centered and comprehensive transitional justice responses.” Ambassador Van Schaack visited Liberia several times and is credited with playing a key role in persuading President Joseph Boakai to support the establishment of a war crimes court in Liberia. She also supported The Gambia’s decision to establish a court to try perpetrators of the Yahya Jammeh regime.
“Along the way, we consistently advocated for the establishment of victims funds to advance reparative justice,” said Ambassador Van Schaack. “We strengthened our collaborations with victims, survivors and civil society to enhance their capacity to lead transitional justice processes.”
Ambassador Van Schaack stepped down from her role this week before the new US administration led by Mr. Donald Trump to took office on Monday. Mr. Trump had no one in her role during his first term. He has not nominated any one for the role so far, though names being discussed include Dr. Alan White, the former investigator for Sierra Leone’s Special Court who has been an active and at times controversial player in Liberia’s push for a war crimes court.
Cllr. Sylvester Rennie, the outgoing president of the Liberian National Bar Association, applauded the outgoing ambassador’s performance in the role and called on the Trump administration to prioritize it in his second turn in the job.
“We are appealing to the new leadership to see reason for maintaining the Office of Global Criminal Justice,” said Cllr. Rennie in an interview. “With all of all of the resources that they have placed in that office as a country, I don’t think they are prepared to allow the American people’s money to go to waste. So, I’m of the conviction that process will continue. And you know, the person that will be appointed there, we want to ensure that we can work with that person as a country.”
Ms. Van Schaack, the sixth person to hold the role since its creation, seemed to have won the hearts of many Liberian human rights advocates, often holding in-person engagements with them and remaining engaged even after her visits here. Advocates say they considered her a key friend and ally to Liberia. She often openly commended the country’s efforts to establish a war and economic crimes court and lobbied State Department and Congressional colleagues to ensure that Liberia received financial and technical support from the US and other partners to establish the court. One notable technical support came towards the close of 2024 when a special team of investigators, prosecutors and law enforcement visited Liberia and held working sessions with their Liberian counterparts. They have remained in touch since and other teams from the US have also visited Liberia to explore what kind of support they can provide the country and the Office for War and Economic Crimes Courts.
In a further advocacy for Liberia, in August, Ambassador Van Schaack made a case for the country’s transitional justice process at a meeting at UN headquarters in New York. Ms. Van Schaack also became the target of what she dismissed as “unsubstantiated allegations” by opponents included Dr. White, a fellow American and others.

“Her departure from the office will be missed, because she was on top of the issues,” said Cllr. Rennie. “The Bar’s interaction Ambassador Van Schaack was rewarding. We saw the passion that she had for accountability, traditional justice and to ensure justice not only in Liberia, but around the world. When you spoke to her, her prime objectives were to ensure that we move far faster with the process. She was prepared to see that justice prevailed in Liberia. She was very fast in responding to communications. She was also somebody who reminded you about prior discussions.”

Mr. Adama Dempster, a leading Liberian human rights advocate, shared Cllr. Rennie’s sentiment.
“Her handy work is on Liberia in its quest of achieving justice for crimes committed during the wars,” said Mr. Dempster in a WhatsApp message. “The U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice played a role in supporting Liberia’s efforts to address past human rights abuses, leading to the establishment of war and economic crimes court; include providing technical assistance, supporting the development of national justice mechanisms, civil society efforts in advocating for accountability to bring those responsible for atrocities.”
Aside from Liberia, The Gambia, Central African Republic and other countries, Ambassador Van Schaack also extended her advocacy for criminal accountability for egregious crimes against the world’s people to other parts of the globe, including in Asia, Latin America, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Belarus, and Ukraine. Her office also launched $US5 million rewards each for Joseph Kony and Ahmed Haroun, Ugandan and Sudanese fugitives wanted by the International Criminal Court.
Another major achievement that Ambassador Van Schaack highlighted was ensuring an amendment to the “Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act,” which“extends federal jurisdiction over war crime offenses committed anywhere to offenses where (1) the victim or offender is an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence; or (2) the offender is present in the United States, regardless of the nationality of the victim or the offender.”
In response to her many achievements on her personal LinkedIn page, transitional justice experts and advocates for accountability for past crimes, paid tributes to her.
“You represented the U.S. with great distinction and, indeed, accomplished much, Beth, and did so in not always ideal conditions,” said Christopher “Kop” Hale, chief of staff, Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group for Ukarine. “For those who know you, this comes at no surprise. It was a privilege to work with you, as always, on both professional and personal levels. We all look forward to your continued efforts and determination in forging progress in international justice and accountability for atrocity crimes around the globe.”
Hartley West, global co-chair of Enforcement & Investigations at Dechert LLP; Youth in Arts Board member said:
“Thank you for your service. The people of the world couldn’t have asked for a better Ambassador-at-Large.”
“Thank you, dear Beth, for your incredible commitment to the concept of international criminal justice and the great support for UNITAD,” said Christian Ritscher, federal public prosecutor, Germany former special advisor and head of Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL. “This was outstanding. It was always a great privilege to discuss with you the ways forward regarding accountability and justice. All the best to you personally and for the upcoming professional steps. I’m sure we will meet again!”
This story is a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project. Funding was provided by the Swedish Embassy in Liberia which had no say in the story’s content.