On March 5, Liberian legislators erupted in applause and song, chanting “war crimes court” and “we want justice!” The enthusiastic display came after the House of Representatives of Liberia passed a resolution to create a special court: a War and Economic Crimes Court. And on April 9, the Liberian Senate responded to the house’s call for them to pass a similar resolution. They did so, overwhelmingly, to include votes for the resolution by two longstanding opponents and former warlords, Senators Prince Yormie Johnson and Thomas Yaya Nimely. The Liberian people now eagerly await President Boakai to sign the bill into law and set up the court, as he pledged to do to the country when taking office in January.
Liberia’s Path Forward
After Liberia’s civil wars ended in 2003, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission released recommendations on how the country should move forward after the violence. This included the recommendation to create a court of some sort to prosecute war crimes and other atrocities committed during the wars. So far, however, there has been no accountability in Liberia for the perpetrators of the worst crimes or justice for victims. The new resolution is an important step toward prosecuting those crimes and ending a culture of impunity where criminals are not punished.
Across West Africa and around the world, the United States is helping communities have difficult conversations about how to build a more peaceful future after the commission of atrocities of the past. My recent trip to Liberia and The Gambia was heartening in this respect and reassured me that, in a world beset by vexing conflict and appalling mass violence, calls for justice will not go unanswered.
Healing Societal Trauma in The Gambia
In The Gambia, I joined conversations with victims of former president Yahya Jammeh’s authoritarian regime. These brave advocates have led the effort to bring wrongdoers to account and begin to heal the societal trauma left by decades of serious human rights violations. During my visit, we saw real progress: representatives from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) joined their Gambian counterparts to continue work establishing a hybrid court that will prosecute alleged perpetrators. The United States is bringing broad support to help in this effort. In addition to my own office’s programing in The Gambia—the Department of Justice to USAID to the Embassy Banjul team—we are all working closely with both victim advocates and policymakers to help the country move forward along the long path to justice.
Pursuing justice for mass atrocities is truly a global effort: in addition to its efforts at home, The Gambia has brought a case in the International Court of Justice on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation accusing Burma of violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention in its horrific treatment of Rohingya. The Gambia’s leadership shows that through a coordinated international effort, human rights violators will be held to account. We, too, remain deeply committed to being a part of that initiative.
Ongoing Diplomatic Work
Our diplomats on the ground worldwide provide vital forward momentum in this crucial work. Wherever they can, they elevate victims’ voices and offer technical support and funding. In Ukraine, for example, they are assisting as international and Ukrainian investigators gather evidence of unconscionable war crimes and other atrocities committed by Russian officials and forces. In Colombia, they are…
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