By: Julius Konton
Liberia’s long and contested journey toward justice for crimes committed during its brutal civil wars gained renewed momentum this week as the Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court of Liberia (OWECC-L) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reaffirmed their strategic partnership to advance accountability, rule of law, and institutional reform.
At a high-level meeting in Monrovia,
OWECC-L Executive Director Cllr. Dr. Jallah A. Barbu led discussions with senior UNDP officials on coordinated support for the establishment and operationalization of the proposed War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) and the National Anti-Corruption Court, two institutions widely viewed as central to addressing Liberia’s legacy of impunity.
The engagement focused on capacity-building, institutional design, and the training of Liberian professionals to serve as technical assistants, prosecutors, investigators, and judicial officers an approach aimed at ensuring national ownership and long-term sustainability of the courts.
A Justice Gap Decades in the Making
Liberia’s civil wars between 1989 and 2003 claimed an estimated 250,000 lives, displaced nearly one-third of the population, and left behind a legacy of widespread atrocities, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and large-scale economic plunder.
Despite the 2009 Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommending the establishment of a war crimes court, successive governments failed to act, allowing alleged perpetrators to remain unaccountable for more than two decades.
According to international governance indices, Liberia continues to struggle with weak judicial enforcement and corruption.
Transparency International’s recent assessments consistently place Liberia in the lower half of global corruption perception rankings, while public confidence in the justice system remains fragile.
“The absence of accountability has long undermined public trust, national reconciliation, and investor confidence,” a Liberian legal analyst noted.
“Establishing these courts is not only about the past, it is about safeguarding the future.”
UNDP’s Commitment to Institutional Reform
Speaking on behalf of UNDP, Cllr. Aagon Tingbah reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting Liberia’s justice reform agenda.
He confirmed UNDP’s ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs to strengthen training programs for Liberian professionals and local authorities, particularly in areas of legal administration, governance, and institutional management.
Tingbah pledged UNDP’s full technical and strategic support to OWECC-L, emphasizing the importance of Liberian leadership in steering the process.
“Building credible justice institutions requires more than legislation, it demands trained people, public trust, and sustained international partnership,” Tingbah said.
“UNDP stands ready to support Liberia in translating this vision into reality.”
Economic Crimes and Development
Beyond war crimes, the proposed framework also targets economic crimes, which experts estimate have cost Liberia billions of U.S. dollars in lost public revenue since the end of the war.
Weak accountability mechanisms have historically deterred foreign investment and constrained public service delivery in sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure.
The National Anti-Corruption Court is expected to complement existing institutions by fast-tracking high-profile cases and strengthening deterrence, particularly in public financial management.
A Test for the Boakai’s Administration
The renewed push for accountability comes under the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, who has publicly committed to strengthening governance, combating corruption, and restoring confidence in state institutions.
Political observers describe the establishment of the courts as a defining test of the government’s reform credentials.
Civil society groups and victims’ associations have welcomed the OWECC-L–UNDP engagement, urging the government to ensure transparency, adequate funding, and legislative backing.
“For survivors, justice delayed has been justice denied,” said a representative of a victims’ advocacy group.
“This partnership offers hope but only if it leads to concrete action.”
As Liberia seeks to consolidate peace more than 20 years after the guns fell silent, the partnership between OWECC-L and UNDP signals a renewed determination to confront the past while strengthening institutions for the future.
Analysts say successful implementation could position Liberia as a regional model for post-conflict accountability and legal reform in West Africa.
Whether the initiative delivers long-awaited justice now depends on sustained political will, legislative action, and continued international support.
