OWECC, PUL Court Rwanda -Liberian Delegation Studies Rwanda’s Transitional Justice

MONROVIA – Liberia is looking to Rwanda for lessons in justice after mass atrocity. A joint delegation has been in Rwanda since October 2. It brings together the Office for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia (OWECC). The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) and the Liberia National Police (LNP) are also represented. It has met justice actors, academics, civil society groups and media institutions. The aim is to support the planned War and Economic Crimes Court and the National Anti-Corruption Court. The PUL expects a media memorandum of understanding. But no timetable is given for either court to begin work. As THE ANALYST reports, Kigali’s lessons may matter only when Liberia’s courts open.

A high-level Liberian delegation has undertaken a series of joint and separate engagements with transitional justice actors and media institutions in Rwanda, signaling progress toward building partnerships that will strengthen Liberia’s justice and accountability processes, according to a statement issued in Kigali on October 9, 2026.

The delegation comprises representatives from the Office for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia (OWECC Liberia), the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), and the Liberia National Police (LNP).

Institutions engaged include leading actors in the rule of law, academia, civil society, the Liberian community in Rwanda, and journalism and media organizations.

Discussions centered on drawing lessons from Rwanda’s transitional justice experience and exploring opportunities for collaboration to support Liberia’s efforts to establish and operationalize the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) and the National Anti-Corruption Court (NACC).

Delegation Tours Rwandan Regions

Since arriving in Rwanda on October 2, 2026, the delegation, led by Cllr. Professor Jallah A. Barbu, Executive Director of OWECC Liberia; Julius Kanubah, President of the PUL; and Ezekiel E. Fayia, Superintendent of the LNP, has held engagements across the Rwandan regions of Kigali, Musanze, and Rubavu, with plans to travel to Kibuye and Nyamata before returning to Liberia.

Other members include Simeon J. Lomah, Head of Information and Communications Technology at OWECC Liberia; Edmond S. Kamei, Assistant Director for Operations at OWECC Liberia; and Patrick Niyongabo, Escort/Advisor to OWECC Liberia.

Media Partnership on the Horizon

In meetings with Rwandan transitional justice actors, Barbu and Kanubah emphasized the importance of cross-cultural learning, technical support, and capacity building in advancing reconciliation, justice, accountability, national healing, memorialization, digitalization, and support for victims and survivors of Liberia’s violent armed conflict.

 Kanubah expressed confidence that discussions with the Rwanda Journalists Association (ARJ) and the Rwanda Media Commission (RMC) will culminate in a memorandum of understanding for collaboration, strengthening professional journalism and media solidarity between Liberia and Rwanda.

The statement was jointly signed by Kanubah and Barbu.