MONROVIA – The National Civil Society Council of Liberia (NCSCL) has hailed both chambers of the National Legislature for the signing of a Joint Resolution for the establishment of a war and economic crimes court for Liberia.

It could be recalled that the House of Representatives barely a month ago passed the Resolution for the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) for Liberia before the full Plenary – highest decision-making body of the Senate, on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 unanimously signed the Joint Resolution.

The august body overwhelmingly made the decision with 28 of the 29 members of the Senate affixing their signatures to the document. Maryland County Senator James Biney is the only person yet to sign the document but said when certain clarities are made to clear all constitutional doubts he would sign onto it. The Senate in its action made few additions and subtractions, thus prompting the document to be resubmitted to the House for concurrence; and hence, that has been done already and the document is being submitted to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for further Executive action.

Consequently, the CSO Council in a statement issued Monday, April 15, 2024, lauded the Legislature for the passage of the landmark document, which it believes will help ensure peace and tranquility to the nation and its people.

The statement quoting Chairperson Loretta Alethea Pope-Kai pointed out that the establishment of a war and economic crime court for Liberia will help end the doctrine of impunity in the country.

Madam Pope-Kai believes that the best way to have peace and reconciliation is to insist that the perpetrators of war and economic crimes as well as those who committed atrocities during the hay days of the war are made to account for their actions.

“The National Civil Society Council is delighted over the recent action of the Legislature to pass the long-awaited Resolution that gives birth to the different processes leading to the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia. This has long been in the pipeline for almost 20 years, and so we want to thank members of this 55^th Legislature for their courage to sign this instrument,” said the CSO statement.

“NCSCL believes that the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia is the path to true reconciliation and national healing and the means to end the culture of impunity in Liberia.”

In a related development, the National Civil Society Council of Liberia has called on the Government of Liberia to be robust in its fire service program.

Call by the NCSCL comes on the heel of different fire incidents within Monrovia and its environs – mainly affecting top public officials and key structures.

To curtail these incidents, the Council urges the government to investment more in equipment and human resource capacity building programs.

“Recent fire incidents in the country are too scaring and we think the government needs to do something about this. There must be robust fire service program that would guarantee prompt response to fire outbreak. In addition to that, the government needs to invest more in this sector by procuring more fire service equipment and training of more staff. Fire outbreak has become a national emergency and so the government must act swiftly and properly.” 

MONROVIA – In an effort to help Liberia achieve its goals outlined in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with emphasis on the forest sector, several civil society organizations within the environmental sector led by their umbrella organization – the National Civil Society Council of Liberia (NCSCL), have climaxed a one-day regional dialogue in Gbarnga, Bong County.

The dialogue was held on Friday, November 17, 2023 with support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Giving an overview of the project, the Chairperson of NCSCL, Madam Loretta Alethea Pope-Kai, explained that the regional dialogue amongst stakeholders was intended to identify policies and governance priorities for driving the implementation of the forestry sector’s NDC targets, through a project which is being supported by UNDP.

According to her, the Council under the UNDP supported project, will build network and strengthen partnerships by mobilizing national and local CSOs to engage regularly and effectively in forest NDC climate-related processes.

Madam Pope-Kai pointed out that the baseline is to enhance communication mechanisms to share updates on forest NDC action and relevant information to promote advocacy and policy brainstorming and support to the government and other stakeholders

Furthermore, the NCSCL head of NCSCL asserted that one of the major goals behind the project is to establish a multi-stakeholder driven process for tracking and reporting on NDC implementation in the forestry sector.

Madam Pope-Kai told the gathering that the project aims to ensure that at least 25% of priority degraded forest be restored by 2030.

“As the Apex body for all CSOs in Liberia with the influence and networking capacity, we will strengthen the multi-stakeholders working group (National Climate Change Steering Committee) to engage the FDA and the EPA on what has happen and how we can increase our stakeholders’ engagement to ensuring that the government meets up with this target priority. Our focus is not to re-invent the wheel but to work and strengthen the capacity existence structures,” said the Council boss.

As part of the many activities, NCSCL was able to identify different CSOs engaging on climate change and forest issues at the national and local level.

“We will set up a multi-stakeholders CSO platform with existence structure for advocacy, monitoring, reviewing and reporting on the implementation of Liberia’s forestry NDC target. We are also going to identify modalities for mobilizing financial support needed to support CSO engagement in the NDC process. Also, the Council will initiate a national conference amongst stakeholders including the government and development partners on the implementation roadmap of the NDCs,” the NCSCL boss explained to participants.

 Madam Pope-Kai also mentioned that the Council will build network-building and partnerships for support (technical and coordinating) for CSOs to regularly engage and contribute to the climate change processes at national and local levels.

One of key expected outcome of the project, which is valued at US$30,000, is that NCSCL, through the CSOs Working Group on Climate Change the Forestry Targets, would develop one policy brief on the forest targets and disseminate that amongst stakeholders.

The group would engage the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) to develop a common approach for CSO advocacy, monitoring and information sharing and reporting on the implementation of the NDCs with a key focus on the forestry targets.

It also aims to build consensus with relevant CSOs in the sector to sustain network-building and partnerships for support (technical and coordinating) for CSOs to regularly engage and contribute to the climate change processes at national and local levels

The project also aims to strengthen coordination with the National Climate Change Steering Committee (NCCSC), and ensure that CSOs in the sector are aware of the forest targets through information sharing in monitoring the implementation of the NDCs.   

Liberia is known to hold 43% of the Upper Guinean Rainforest, which is a significant portion under the West African biome (EPA, 2019).

Even though the country is noted for its advantages in biodiversity and forest cover, a recent land satellite land cover monitoring from the FDA indicates that from 2009 to 2022, Liberia has experienced deforestation in its Northwest and Southeast Forest covers landscapes and these are on the decrease while forest degradation has at least tripled everywhere (FDA, 2021).

The total tree cover loss is about 1,918,352 ha from 2001- 2020. However, the FDA has recommended that the country institutes a strong legal and operational framework to manage and sustain the remaining forest resources in Liberia.

Besides, Liberia’s NDC has set targets for the Forestry sector to reduce the national deforestation rate by 50% by 2030 (EPA, 2021). Additionally, the NDC has proposed that the country restore about 25% of priority degraded forests by 2030 and at the same time establish five new Protected Areas to complement the existing government commitment to increase forest Protected Areas to 1.5 million ha, ensuring a 3km buffer zone, by 2030 (EPA, 2021). Under Climate Promise 2.0, Liberia is one of the countries receiving funds from the UK’s DEFRA for a national project.

“Our organization provides global and regional leadership, coordination and monitoring in education, strengthens lifelong learning education systems worldwide and responds to contemporary global challenges through education. Let us recall that we are guided by the principles of human rights, inclusion and gender equality among others,” he pointed out.

The Council’s observers reported that some of his supporters attempted to enter the tallying center and their presence disrupted the tallying proceeding. Reports by the NCSCL observers were further validated by observers of acclaimed local elections observatory group, Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) and local media.

According to the Council, the Sanniquellie fracas led to the suspension of the process for several hours during the day which compelled national and international observers to leave the center. The situation, ECC added, was brought under control with reinforcement from the joint Security Taskforce.

At the same time, NCSCL observers recollected that at SKD Sports Complex, the tallying process was abruptly disrupted allegedly by supporters of the CDC. The disruption is reported to  have lasted for three hours (7pm-10pm) and the scale of the interference placed the lives of the observers and election’s data at risk.

Based on the two incidents, the CSO Council in a statement noted that these actions do not only instill fears in Liberians, but also have the potential to undermine the transparency of the electoral process, which was conducted freely by the National Elections Commission (NEC).

As conscience of the Liberian society, the Council warns against the disruption of the peace and democracy of the state, stating that they will not sit supinely to allow any group or individuals to do so.

“The National Civil Society Council of Liberia is deeply saddened by the recent disruptions of tallying processes in both Nimba and Montserrado Counties as reported by elections observers and the media. As the lead voice of the civil society we will not remain quietly seated to allow anyone to disrupt our peace and democracy,” the CSO Council asserted in the statement signed by Chairperson Madam Loretta Alethea Pope-Kai.

NCSCL maintains that the actions by the groups, predominantly youth, under the reported influence of key government officials, pose a serious threat to the peace and security of the state, noting that this has the propensity to cause serious chaos in the country.

The Council pointed out that these acts do not only create chaos but equally undermine the fairness of the electoral process, which the Commission has vowed to uphold.

“We are very ashamed of the GC commissioner Hon. Garrison Yealue reported involvement in election violence,” stated the Council.

“This is counterproductive to the fairness of the peaceful elections that were held freely and greeted by massive turnout. This is scaring and Liberians must desist from these kinds of violence because the peace and security of this country is the responsibility of every Liberian,” the statement furthered.

Particularly on the alleged involvement of Atty. Yealue, NCSCL described as unfortunate, for a person heading an integrity institution to be meddling in politics despite many calls for his recusal.

“We are particularly disappointed by the alleged involvement of a top government official in person of Atty. Garrison Yealue, who is reported to have masterminded the attack. Like many rights groups and pressure groups in the country, we have since advised against the ill-decision of the appointment of Atty. Yealue to a campaign team, but our calls were not adhered to and this is the result we have today. Be it true or not, Atty. Yealue absolutely has no grounds to get involved in any active political activity, least to say, campaign activities,” noted the statement. 

NCSCL calls on the Government of Liberia (GoL) through the Ministry of Justice to improve electoral security in a bid to maintaining a peaceful atmosphere.

The Council at the same time urges political parties to remain peaceful as it is coordinating with all stakeholders to ensure a peaceful ending.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Atty. Yealue described the allegation linking him to the attack as false and misleading but video accounts indicated otherwise

According to him, he had gone to Sanniquellie on the day of the incident to file a formal complaint before the NEC Magistrate on behalf of his client, incumbent Nimba County District #4 Representative Gorpu Kargon regarding the very attack, which resulted in the Representative ballot box being taken away.

While in Ganta to celebrate his birthday, he narrated that rumors started to circulate that he (Yealue) was the mastermind of the violence, something he indicated is completely contrary to the real facts.

“I can tell you I am not a violent person; I have never been into violence. When the people were fighting war here, we were there teaching children to go to school. So why would I want to be involved in violence now at my age above 50 years? I get nothing to do with violence but those guys just feel intimidated whenever they see me around,” Atty. Yealue clarified.

“Yesterday, it was a common thing that I did – I had just gone to Sanniquellie to file my complaint; simple and nothing else about it. I filed my complaint and I left from there so I don’t know why so much hatred is in them about me. They are going on Facebook lying. If you go to Facebook, you will see that they were celebrating my birthday in Ganta, while they were throwing stones there. So, it’s strange. Why will I be in Ganta and you say I am there? It’s strange!! People don’t lie like that mehn. We need to think about this country, because no matter what we do, Liberia is the only place that we have,” he among other things stated.

It could be recalled that despite heading an integrity institution, Atty. Yealue, a former Nimba lawmaker, was appointed to the campaign team of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) by President George Manneh Weah. The Liberian leader’s decision has since been condemned by  rights-based groups, integrity institutions, and civil society organizations including apex body NCSCL.

The CSO Council at the time of the appointment described the President’s decision to appoint Atty. Yealue as a breach of the law because it contravenes Sections 2.2 and 5.3.4 of the Act creating the Good Governance Commission that requires both the GC and its Commissioners to be independent and politically neutral. But the Liberian leader failed to acknowledge the red flags that rose around the appointment of Atty. Yealue, hence; he still maintains him as one of the key officials of the CDC’s campaign team, while still heading the GC.

Atty. Yealue has defended that his right to fully participate in politics or political activity is guaranteed under the Constitution of Liberia, which surpasses all statutes. 

In the wake of recent commitment by the Government of the United States of America (USA) to erecting the necessary checks that would ensure the holding of a transparent electoral process in Liberia, the National Civil Society Council of Liberia (NCSCL) has extolled the US government.

In execution of Article 77(b) of the Liberian Constitution, eligible Liberian voters will go to the poll to on October 10 elect a President/Vice President, 73 Representatives and 15 Senators with the two former steering the affairs of the state for the next six years and the latter for nine years. In those elections, President Weah, standard bearer of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) will contest against 18 opposition candidates for the presidency.

Speaking at her debut news conference at the US Embassy near Monrovia recently, , Chargé d’Affaires Catherine Rodriguez, said the US government wants to see the free and fair democratic process upheld, stressing anyone who undermines the process would face measures such as sanctions from the US government.

In a bid to ensuring a free and fair process she indicated that the US is prepared to assist in efforts to keep these elections free, fair, and peaceful and would equally hold accountable anyone, who engages in activities to undermine the democratic electoral process in Liberia.

 “The United States is also prepared to assist in efforts to keep these elections free, fair, and peaceful by holding accountable anyone responsible for engaging in activities to undermine the democratic election process in Liberia through additional measures such as sanctions,” said the US diplomat.

The US envoy urged the Government of Liberia (GoL) to ensure that these elections are fair, free, and peaceful and to hold accountable those that would attempt to disrupt it. 

She wants government invest an adequate level of money, personnel, and organizational resources to protect its citizens, candidates, polling stations, and election workers from intimidation or harm.  

“The eyes of the world are focused on these elections and how they are managed. The United States, as a longstanding partner of Liberia, along with the international community, has been working closely with the NEC to make sure that all election observers have full access to polling stations during election day, as well as access to the vote tallying. The U.S. Embassy through USAID is directly supporting both international and domestic election observer missions, as well as our own mission observing the election process across the country,” she noted.

On the heel of this commitment, the CSO Council, which is the umbrella body for all civil society organizations in the country, in a release commended the world power for taking the ensuing Liberia’s election as one of its priorities.

The Council pointed out that the position by the US government to a larger extent bring high level of credibility to the process as it would deter would-be violator(s) from engaging into acts that have the propensity to undermine the process.

“We see the recent statement coming from the US government as a great relief as Liberians of all walks of lives yarn for a free and credible process. This is something that we, at the level of the Civil Society Council have been calling for at different stakeholders’ engagement. This statement alone, we feel brings light and life to our many calls,” said the release signed by Chairperson Madam Loretta Alethea Pope-Kai.

At the same time, the Council has lauded the US for the deployment of the first batch of Peace Corps following the Covid-19 surge. 

The 12 Peace Corps volunteers, who were sworn in during a ceremony at Monrovia city hall recently, will be working in the education and health sectors during their service.

The Peace Corps has been in Liberia since 1962, the year after Peace Corps began.

NCSCL noted that the presence of the Peace Corps will add further boost to the country’s educational and health sectors.