MONROVIA – Liberia yesterday moved significantly closer to establishing a War and Economic Crimes Court and a National Anti-Corruption Court as President Joseph Nyuma Boakai formally received draft legislation prepared by the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court–Liberia. The development marks one of the most consequential transitional justice and anti-corruption initiatives undertaken since the end of Liberia’s civil conflict, signaling renewed momentum toward addressing decades of impunity, wartime abuses and public sector corruption. The ceremony at the Executive Mansion brought together government officials, justice advocates, women’s groups and traditional representatives, many of whom described the moment as historic for survivors and victims who have long demanded accountability and national closure, as THE ANALYST reports.
Liberia yesterday took a major step toward the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court and a National Anti-Corruption Court as President Joseph Nyuma Boakai formally received draft legislation intended to operationalize the two institutions widely viewed as central to the country’s long-running accountability and transitional justice process.
The draft laws were presented to the President at a ceremony held on the grounds of the Executive Mansion by the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court–Liberia (OWECC-L), headed by Dr. Jallah Barbu, following months of consultations, technical reviews and public engagement activities conducted both within Liberia and among members of the diaspora.
The occasion, while formal in structure, carried heavy emotional and political significance as officials, survivors’ representatives, women’s groups and government actors framed the submission as a defining moment in Liberia’s efforts to confront its violent past and strengthen accountability institutions.
Presenting the draft instruments, Dr. Barbu described the process as one rooted in extensive national and international collaboration aimed at ensuring the proposed courts meet constitutional and international standards.
“It is with profound honor and solemn responsibility that I stand before Your Excellency today,” Dr. Barbu stated while presenting the draft laws for both the War and Economic Crimes Court and the National Anti-Corruption Court.
According to him, the drafting process involved broad consultations with civil society organizations, women and youth groups, religious institutions, traditional leaders, survivors’ associations, legal experts and members of the Liberian diaspora.
“We engaged communities across Liberia and in the diaspora, including survivors, victims’ associations, civil society organizations, and traditional leaders, to ensure that the voices of those most affected by war and economic crimes were heard,” Dr. Barbu explained.
He further disclosed that international legal experts and anti-corruption practitioners were consulted as part of efforts to align the draft laws with Liberia’s constitutional framework and global best practices.
Dr. Barbu also noted that the office conducted extensive research, including reviews of historical records, commission reports and comparative experiences from countries that previously established similar accountability courts.
The Executive Director acknowledged that establishing such courts represents a new and complex development within Liberia’s justice system and therefore required what he described as “care and caution” throughout the drafting process.
He assured the President that the draft laws are “robust and defensible” and capable of meeting international standards.
According to him, OWECC-L has additionally prepared legislative engagement strategies, explanatory memoranda and public awareness campaigns intended to support understanding and eventual passage of the draft laws within the Legislature.
“We have initiated dialogue with members of the Legislature to build consensus and secure bipartisan support,” he disclosed.
Before continuing his formal presentation, Dr. Barbu invited attendees to observe a moment of silence in honor of the estimated 250,000 Liberians killed during the country’s civil conflict, transforming the ceremony into a deeply reflective occasion.
Also speaking during the program, a representative of Liberian women praised President Boakai’s political will and described the submission of the draft laws as a historic development for women who endured the consequences of war, corruption and injustice over several decades.
“We applaud your leadership in the submission of the draft bills to establish the Anti-Corruption and the War and Economic Crimes Courts in Liberia,” the women’s representative declared.
She emphasized that women across Liberia served not only as victims during the civil conflict, but also as caregivers, peacebuilders and leaders of nonviolent advocacy movements that contributed significantly to ending the war.
“Today, we continue to sustain the peace through peace huts, community mediation, early warning systems, and social cohesion efforts across the country,” she stated.
According to her, many women have waited years for meaningful justice and acknowledgment regarding the suffering experienced during the country’s violent years.
“For many women in Liberia, this is not just about regulation; it is about acknowledgment, dignity, and long-overdue closure for survivors,” she said.
The representative further stressed that accountability remains essential to national healing and sustainable peace.
“Without accountability, there can be no healing, no reconciliation, and no sustainable peace,” she added.
An official from the Ministry of Local Government also highlighted outreach activities undertaken across Liberia’s fifteen counties as part of efforts to educate citizens, chiefs and local communities about the proposed courts.
“We carried out outreach activities and mobilization, informing the Liberian people—from the grassroots level, our chiefs, and communities—about the establishment of the Court,” the official stated.
According to him, traditional leaders were deliberately included within the consultation process to ensure that discussions surrounding justice and accountability reached rural communities.
He praised the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court for what he described as inclusive engagement efforts involving chiefs and local stakeholders.
At the Ministry of Justice, officials used the occasion to reaffirm the government’s broader commitment to accountability and rule of law reforms.
A deputy minister stressed that Liberia must demonstrate that wrongdoing cannot continue without consequences.
“Liberia must not be seen as a place where people can do wrong and get away with it,” the official asserted.
The deputy minister additionally emphasized that the Ministry of Justice remains committed to supervising the process and ensuring that victims of war and corruption eventually receive justice.
When President Boakai addressed the gathering, he framed the initiative as part of his administration’s broader mission to restore Liberia’s dignity, credibility and respect for rule of law governance.
“I didn’t come to this position to look for the presidency,” President Boakai stated. “We came on a rescue mission.”
The President rejected suggestions that the proposed courts are intended to target specific individuals or groups.
According to him, the objective is to demonstrate that Liberia remains committed to justice, accountability and human rights.
“Some people thought that establishing the War and Economic Crimes Court was intended for them,” the President remarked. “It is intended to show that Liberia is a country governed by the rule of law, committed to removing impunity and upholding respect for humanity.”
President Boakai stressed that Liberia, as part of the international community, must fulfill obligations tied to international agreements and human rights commitments.
“The world is watching, and Liberia must demonstrate its commitment to human rights and justice,” he declared.
The President further emphasized that leadership should prioritize respect and stewardship rather than popularity.
“A leader should not be concerned about being liked, but about being respected,” he said.
He also linked the initiative to broader national reconciliation and governance reform efforts under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
“We cannot govern this country by guns,” President Boakai stated emphatically. “We must govern through dialogue and law.”
In an additional statement released by OWECC-L following the ceremony, the President reiterated that the proposed courts are intended to serve as instruments of healing, reconciliation and deterrence while strengthening public confidence in Liberia’s justice system.
The statement noted that the President assured the nation that his administration would work closely with the Legislature to ensure timely passage of the draft laws and provide the necessary support required for the courts to operate independently and effectively.
According to the release, the establishment of the two courts is also expected to strengthen Liberia’s credibility internationally by demonstrating seriousness in addressing war crimes, economic crimes and corruption.
OWECC-L emphasized that the courts are not intended as mechanisms of vengeance, but rather as institutions designed to ensure fairness, due process and accountability under law.
The submission of the draft legislation now shifts attention toward the Legislature, where lawmakers are expected to review, debate and eventually determine the fate of one of the most consequential justice initiatives in Liberia’s postwar history.