MONROVIA (Reuters) – Liberia’s senate on Tuesday supported the establishment of a war crimes court aimed at delivering long-awaited justice to victims of grave abuses during the country’s two civil wars.
President Joseph Boakai put forth the resolution, which was approved by lawmakers in Liberia’s lower house last month.
The resolution was passed in the Senate, with 27 out of 29 senators backing it. Boakai’s final approval is now awaited.
This move has been praised by activists and civil society groups advocating for more accountability for crimes committed during the civil wars that took place between 1989 and 2003.
An estimated 250,000 individuals lost their lives in the conflicts, which involved massacres, sexual violence, and the recruitment of child soldiers.
A Truth and Reconciliation Committee recommended the establishment of a special court to prosecute those allegedly responsible for the atrocities, but no concrete action was taken until Boakai assumed office last year.
Once operational, the court will function in Liberia according to international standards and will receive support from global institutions, including the United Nations. It will also address economic crimes.
There are dissenting voices in Liberia who argue against the court’s creation, expressing concerns that it could reignite past grievances and potentially undermine an existing amnesty law that contributed to ending the conflicts.
(Reporting by James Harding Giahyue; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
