Liberia’s Largest Trafficking Trial Ends in Convictions for All Defendants

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives

A jury convicted all eight defendants on all charges Monday in Liberia’s largest human trafficking trial, delivering a unanimous verdict after roughly 20 minutes of deliberation and closing out a case that has tested the country’s justice system under intense international scrutiny.

The defendants were found guilty of trafficking in persons, criminal conspiracy and theft of property; those facing rape charges were convicted on those counts as well. The speed of the jury’s decision came after nearly three weeks of testimony from dozens of the case’s 57 alleged victims, who described being lured with false promises of jobs in Canada, then held for months at a compound in Gbankpa Town, Margibi County, where they say they were beaten, raped, starved and coerced into extorting money from their own families.

The verdict is the first conviction in a case that nearly collapsed before it reached trial. A March investigation by FrontPage Africa/New Narratives revealed that nine victims had accused public defender Bestman Juah of offering a US$7,000 bribe to reduce charges, and accused police investigator Enoch Dunbar of accepting payment to alter victim statements and drop charges — allegations both men have denied. Liberia’s solicitor general, Augustine C. Fayiah, later ordered a separate investigative panel to examine those claims.

The case had also been shadowed by Liberia’s broader record on trafficking prosecutions: the government lost three trafficking cases between 2023 and 2024, and just six of 22 cases that reached Liberian courts since 2020 had ended in conviction before Monday’s verdict. Liberia has spent two consecutive years on the US State Department’s Tier 2 watch list for trafficking enforcement, with a third year risking a cut in American aid.

Four defendants had already pleaded guilty before the verdict. Shelley Jonny struck a deal with prosecutors on June 10, testifying against her co-defendants in exchange for having her charges dropped. Three more — Maxson Wonlebaye, Martherline Tompia and Preston Godfred — pleaded guilty a day later but were denied the same deal, with prosecutors saying their admissions would count only as a mitigating factor at sentencing.

Prosecutors built their case on testimony from victims who identified specific defendants by name, corroborated by rebuttal witnesses in the trial’s final days who directly contradicted defendants’ denials — including testimony that defendant Jerome Genseh took as much as US$18,000 from one accuser under false promises of travel, and Dunbar’s sworn denial that police had taken defendants’ property.

For a justice system that has struggled for years to secure trafficking convictions, and for a government facing pressure from Washington over its record on the crime, Monday’s unanimous verdict stands as a marker of whether the system can hold traffickers accountable even when bribery allegations threaten a case from the inside. Advocates who had criticized the government’s initial handling of the case are likely to point to the conviction as evidence that sustained scrutiny — from journalists, from victims willing to testify, and from prosecutors who ultimately restored dropped charges — can still produce a result.

Sentencing has not yet been scheduled, and neither prosecutors, defense lawyers nor victims have issued public statements since the verdict. **This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

West Africa tourism destinations remain largely untapped for the huge number of potential Russian tourists whose incomes have steadily grown over the past few years and have shown high interest in touring different parts of the world.

In terms of tourism, the region still remains relatively unknown, primarily due to inadequate information and lack of publicity. Some say the media portrayed the region negatively as Ebola virus infested and all kind of diseases are widespread while others point to frequent attacks by Islamic militant groups, such as Boko Haram in Nigeria.

Besides the above mentioned few factors, “West Africa has poor tourism infrastructure and the West African governments and Ministries of Tourism representatives don’t do any marketing to promote destinations or engage the media to change the negative perceptions that have already existed among Russians,” says Felly Mbabazi, Executive Director of Safari Tropical Tours.

Mbabazi told me in an emailed discussion that she didn’t know whether “preferred destinations” would be the best term to use when asked about preferred destinations in the region for Russians, noting further that Russians are great travellers who spend freely on vacations abroad.

Russian population of nearly 148 million is a travelling population, according to Mbabazi, who for nearly 15 years, has directed and organized several group tours to safari in East Africa. East African safari includes Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Her company also operates tours to South Africa and other southern African countries.

“There are lot things to be considered in the tourism business and none of the West African countries has these. For example: distance from Moscow, quality infrastructure, reasonable prices, attractions like wildlife, white sandy beaches, gastronomic experience, and most important, tourist safety,” according to Mbabazi.

Nearly fifty Russian tourism directors and experts (who specialized in African tourism) shared the same concerns about the West African region in an emailed survey polled after the South African Tourism Lunch (SATL) held on March 25, 2016. The SATL event was held to present South Africa to top Russian agencies in Moscow.

“In my opinion on a tour of southern region of Africa is the most popular destinations: South Africa (Cape Town, Sun City, National Parks). Almost always added the Victoria Falls from both Zambia and Zimbabwe, safaris in Botswana. As for West African countries such as Ghana, this trend is a little hyped in Russia and I think that with the current economic situation, would not be very popular as tourism destinations for Russians,” says Evgeniya Danishevskaya, Leo-Style Tourism Agency.

According to her observations, Russian tourists often visit Senegal in West Africa Senegal. It’s not hard to say why Russians prefer Senegal, primarily for good security, the happy smiles, the wide beaches and clean ocean. But these can be found in Kenya and in South Africa, but that’s what attracts tourists to holiday in Senegal, so it’s the variety: desert Lompoul, riot of green plants in the Delta at the Blue Saloon, exotic cruises on the lake Retba, Irina Rodina, Director of The “Kaleidoscope” Travel Agency explained.

The capital really – the Dakar. In addition, all the original culture, fresh prawns, beautiful African women, national parks, great friendliness of the inhabitants. In addition, the gorgeous beaches and the exotic nature. Senegal is known as a supplier of peanuts, also for fantastic fishing, delicious smells, surfing, diving.

For instance in Cape Verde – the European level of service for those who want to relax from civilization, have privacy and explore the underwater world of Islands, attracts windsurfers and those who enjoy great fishing! (Cape Verde is one of five (5) centers of windsurfing and one of the world centers for sport fishing). This is not mass tourism. And in Carbo Verde it is possible to go all year round.

In fact, the country Ghana has never been on the list of most visited countries in the world and for Russians this is no exception. Until recently, Ghana was known as the second in the world exports of cocoa, in the views of Rodina.

Rodina thinks the country is however promising, Ghana “friendship before business.” Despite the low level of hotels and their high cost, tourists like sincere smiling and friendly locals who care much to keep their traditions and strive for civilization. Ghana, Rodina thinks the motto “feel free” – feel free! It will be interesting to visit the modern cities of Ghana, in ancient castles, feel freely the atmosphere of the locals.

Of course, tours to Ghana are considered to be exclusive, but shortly Ghana will be known for medical tourism because the doctors in Ghana receive education abroad, tourists will be able to afford treatment clinics in Ghana with low price and high quality and care. Also cosmetic surgery is one of the first places on the request of tourists-customers. It can also bring massage and treatment on alcoholism and drug dependence.

Tourists may be attracted to Ghana where everything is near: sea, river, and jungle. Many places such as Kakum rain forest is described in the novel, “15-year-old captain” by Jules Verne is also interesting! Ghana is one of the world’s leading exporters of gold and diamonds.

Unfortunately, the West African region is not well advertised. Well to conduct seminars, webinars, promotional tours, conduct training online test, quiz like, for example, Profi.Travel and obtaining certificates, Irina Rodina, Director of The “Kaleidoscope” Travel Agency wrote in media survey.

On her part, Ekaterina Afanasyeva, Chief Executive Officer of Camelot & SC Tourism Agency, pointed out that West Africa for the majority of Russian tourists is not yet exotic as there are many factors that impede tourism business to the region.

She explained further that factors for the development of this trend included absence of a direct flights, frequent reports in the media about Ebola, low information component (the Russian tourists know little about the West African countries) and cumbersome procedures of obtaining visas to this region.

The most famous West African countries are: Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Côte d’Voire, Ghana, Burkina Faso … but unfortunately, it is quite difficult to say how popular these countries are as tourism destinations especially for Russians.
There are possibilities to increase business business there, with proper media advertising; it could become really interesting for Russian tourists.

“To be honest, West Africa is not popular in our company and I think among Russians in general. People think that this part of Africa is dangerous: criminal and epidemic situation is not good and there are no adequate information about these countries at all: where to go, what to see, where to live. People would like to know why they should go to new country,” according to Zlata Borisenko, Sales Manager from SODIS Travel Company.

Tatyana Denisova, Head of the Section for Tropical African Studies of the Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, wrote in an email media query that “West Africa has not a well-developed tourist infrastructure (compared to, for example, with Eastern and southern, not to mention North): not enough hotels located near the beaches, the beaches are ill-equipped (at least those that I saw in Ghana and Nigeria), the problems with urban and tourist transport, a sufficient number of national parks, as far as I know, for various reasons, not organized Safari, much-loved by Russians in Kenya.”

That is the beach and the “natural” recreation are low, and historical and architectural objects that could be of interest to the Africanist and ordinary tourist, are not so many.

From the point of view of infrastructure with the exception, apparently, are Cape Verde and the Gambia. But in Cape Verde, there are no direct flights from Moscow, the flight takes almost a day, the tickets are very expensive, but those Russians who travel there, respond very well and the beaches and hotels, and about the service.

“In the Gambia, Russians rarely traveled, and with the advent of President Jammeh reduced the flow of European tourists there. In addition, Russian tour operators prefer to work with reliable counterparts abroad. These contacts had long been established and are developing between Russian and East African, North African and South African travel agencies, covers are, but as far as I know, not so often,” Denisova explained in her comments.

“Tour operators from these regions attend tourism fairs in Moscow, bring catalogs and brochures, and establish personal contacts. I don’t know, maybe because also come representatives of the companies, but I personally, having been on several forums, not a single West African has participated,” she said.

Of course, security issues play an important role, and the relative instability is observed in almost all the countries of the region. From historical and architectural point of view, the greatest interest might represent Nigeria, Ghana, and Mali. But in Ghana the situation is quite stable, and in principle, tourism in Ghana could start to develop faster than in other countries, but this should be addressed, Russian tourists, who used to travel in Turkey and the Canaries, were very capricious, Denisova explained further in her written comments.

In Nigeria, the most interesting areas of the North, exactly where intensified by the Islamists of Boko Haram. In Mali – Timbuktu, Gao and other cities, where I have, in all life dream to visit, but it will probably not happen because it is clear that these areas are permanently closed to tourists.

Denisova believes that Ebola has already ended, although in the minds of Russians these areas are associated with something that is not too comfortable with the medical point of view. The problem of language. After all Turkey and Egypt as well as Greece, Cyprus and other places not only attractive and cheap, but also the fact that none of the tourists, not knowing a single word of English, are visited by huge numbers of Russians. The staff of those hotels, where there is a lot of Russian tourists who usually speaks Russian.

With French-speaking countries are especially hard. If English language as the average Russian knows, the French is knows by only a few. Thus, if anything, Nigeria will always find English speaking Nigerian to help, but I’m not sure that this could happen, for example, in Senegal.

An official from the Russian Federal Tourism Agency suggested in an email response with one question: “Why can’t the West African governments or the Ministries of Tourism seek corporate partnership with Russian media to promote the region’s tourism potentials to the public here? That could be a huge revenue from tourism business to the national income and a major contribution to the region’s economy.”

West Africa is popularly referred to as the Ecowas region. The Economic Community of West African States is made up of fifteen member countries that are located in the region. These countries have both cultural and geopolitical ties and shared common economic interest.

It is located west of north-south axis lying close to 10° east longitude. The Atlantic Ocean forms the western as well as the southern borders of the region. The northern border is the Sahara desert, with the Ranishanu Bend generally considered the northernmost part of the region. The eastern border lies between the Benue Trough, and a line running from Mount Cameroon to Lake Chad.

About The Author:
Kester Kenn Klomegah is an independent research writer on Russia-African affairs and a member of the Regional Council for Development of Relations with Africa.

When Nobel peace prize laureate Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was elected Africa’s first female head of state in 2005, expectations were high. Throughout both her terms as President, she has talked about her firm commitment to women’s rights, coming out strongly in favour of the health and safety of women and girls.

Last year, at an international event on gender equality, President Johnson-Sirleaf said: “Too many of our countries have yet to muster the courage to ban the irreparable harm inflicted by genital mutilation on young girls in traditional societies.” It was a controversial statement, as Liberia is one of the states yet to do so – half of Liberian women and girls (pdf) are estimated to have undergone this extreme form of violence.

Following bans last year in Nigeria and The Gambia, Liberia is now one of only three countries in West Africa yet to ban FGM – the others are Mali and Sierra Leone.

In Sierra Leone and Liberia, the Sande female secret society promotes and carries out FGM as part of a rite initiating girls into womanhood. FGM is a taboo subject  and it is forbidden to talk about secret societies and their practices with non-initiated people.

Punishment for such violations include physical abuse, forceful initiation and death threats – something Ruth Berry Peal, a woman in northern Liberia who was forced to undergo FGM, and other women have faced for years after standing up against it.

Liberia’s media has been silenced on the issue too – and the lives of journalists who speak out are put at risk. Mae Azango was forced into hiding in 2012 for writing about the issue in Front Page Africa.

Things appeared to be changing last year when, in response to many years of international and national pressure, a domestic violence bill was finally introduced to strengthen legislation on violence against women and girls – including, for the first time, a ban on FGM.

The proposed measures on the latter were, though, extremely weak. The bill regarded FGM as an offence only when performed on a girl under the age of 18 – or a person 18 or older without their consent. This would provide a loophole for parents or guardians to grant consent on behalf of their daughters, leaving those most at risk unprotected. The bill also included ineffective penalties for perpetrators, where counselling and fines could be arbitrarily determined by a judge.

Equality Now and its local partner, the Women of Liberia Peace Network, with funding from Comic Relief, have been working to ensure that a total ban on FGM is included in the bill instead – as required by the Maputo protocol, the African women’s rights legal framework, which Liberia has ratified.

This week, things seem to have taken a turn for the worse as legislators decided to delete the FGM provision entirely. A debate will now be held on Thursday on the bill in its current state. As this provision was the most controversial measure, the domestic violence bill could pass without any mention of FGM.

At a time when the Africa-led momentum to end FGM is growing, it is vital that we do not lose the opportunity to protect more girls and women from this huge violation of their rights. Unlike neighbouring countries such as Guinea and Sierra Leone, Liberia has already managed to significantly reduce (pdf) FGM prevalence from 85% for middle-aged women to 44% for girls aged 15 to 19.

However, unless tough legislation is enacted and properly implemented, it may be difficult to accelerate this change and the lives and wellbeing of millions more girls will be put at risk.

Johnson-Sirleaf is well positioned to “muster the courage” to do what is necessary to ensure that Liberia bans FGM – either as part of the current domestic violence bill, or as a standalone bill, as a matter of urgency.

There has been too much discussion and not enough action. Liberia cannot afford to keep making statements to make it seem like it is doing something, without following through and putting real measures in place, which promote and protect the rights of its girls.

Mary Wandia, Contributing Writer
FGM programme Manager at Equality Now