Liberian President Joseph Boakai has issued an executive order to establish the nation’s inaugural war crimes court in the country.
Boakai in a statement said Liberia had endured “downpours of agony” as a result of the conflicts spanning from 1989 to 2003 marred by heinous acts, including mass killings, rape, and the forcible conscription of child soldiers.
Speaking on the establishment, Boakai said, “the court would facilitate the exploration of the root causes and repercussions of the violence, ultimately fostering “justice and healing.”
While no trials have taken place within Liberia, certain perpetrators have faced justice in foreign jurisdictions.