Concern Mounts for WECC -National Dialogue Convened to Advocate Urgent Action

By Anthony Q. Jiffan, Jr.

MONROVIA – A horde of legal minds, civil society, and political leaders, convened a historic Policy Dialogue Forum on the Significance of the War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia and Strategies for Bringing Impunity into Account was held on Wednesday, July 10, 2025, at the Ocean Club Residence in Sinkor.

Jointly organized by the Governance Commission and the Ducor Institute for Social and Economic Research, the event marked a renewed national commitment to justice, reconciliation, and constitutional renewal.

Presiding over the gathering, Alaric K. Tokpa, Acting Chairman of the Governance Commission, emphasized the critical moral, legal, and historical importance of establishing the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC).

“The court is not simply about prosecuting a few individuals,” he declared. “It is about confronting the violent past of our nation, affirming the rule of law, and building a foundation for sustainable peace.”

The Dialogue was notably enriched by a keynote paper delivered by Dr. Aaron Weah, Director of the Ducor Institute and a leading voice in transitional justice in Liberia.

In his address, Dr. Weah underscored the unique demographic reality Liberia faces today: 74% of its population is under the age of 35, either born during the civil war or in its immediate aftermath. “This generation holds prosthetic memories—stories passed down but not lived. The danger,” he cautioned, “is that violent memories are being casually and uncritically transmitted in ethnic and political spaces, risking the cycle of conflict repeating itself.”

Dr. Weah paid special tribute to Dr. Jallah Barbu, Executive Director of the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court, commending his dedication under constrained political and financial circumstances. “In an environment where key signatories of the peace agreement have mobilized against the Court,” he noted, “Dr. Barbu’s leadership has been nothing short of courageous.”

Speakers and participants acknowledged that Liberia, 22 years after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and 16 years after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report, remains haunted by its past. The recommendations of the TRC—including sanctions and lustration—have been ignored or declared unconstitutional. Meanwhile, Liberia’s legal framework still does not recognize war crimes or crimes against humanity.

“The failure to implement the TRC’s recommendations,” said Weah, “has allowed perpetrators to continue wielding political power, while victims suffer in silence.” He warned of a legal paradox in which names listed in the TRC report could not be freely discussed without risking defamation lawsuits, further silencing victims and obstructing historical clarity.

Citing international examples such as post-Apartheid South Africa and post-genocide Rwanda, Dr. Weah called for a comprehensive constitutional review that reflects the ethnic and political realities of Liberia’s civil conflict. “We must outlaw stereotypes like ‘Kpelle man is stupid’ or ‘Mandingo man is a foreigner.’ These labels are not harmless jokes—they are instruments of division that fueled the war and continue to harm national unity.”

“The War and Economic Crimes Court is about more than accountability,” said Chairman Tokpa. “It is about rebuilding trust in our institutions, writing an inclusive and accurate history, and preventing future violence. Without justice, Liberia cannot fully heal, nor can it participate in the international community as a stable and responsible nation.”

He also called for the urgent establishment of a non-bailable Anti-Corruption Court, noting that corruption continues to flourish in the absence of consequences. “What we are witnessing today,” he said, “is a system in which officials are emboldened by impunity.”

The forum was attended by members of the Liberian Legislature, Judiciary, and Executive; representatives of the diplomatic community, including the South African Ambassador to Liberia; and leading voices from civil society, youth, women’s organizations, and the media.

Speakers emphasized the importance of memorialization—not just through a court, but through textbooks, museums, and public discourse. “Our National Museum tells a selective story,” said Dr. Weah. “Where is the room for reflection on the civil war? Where is the documentation of our trauma?”

He revealed that a national history project modeled after UNESCO’s African history initiative once aimed to produce a five-volume series chronicling Liberia’s past. But the effort, launched in 2013, quickly stalled—some say due to political interference and fear of an unfiltered account.

Liberia’s call for justice has not gone unnoticed. Tokpa and Weah thanked international partners—the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, the United States, Sweden, and others—for their longstanding support.

In closing, both institutions reaffirmed their unwavering support for the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court. As Dr. Weah put it, “We must submit Liberia’s recent history to judicial scrutiny—not just for punishment, but for truth-telling, healing, and national rebirth. This is not a witch-hunt. It is a path to justice.”