MONROVIA, October 9, 2026 — The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) has called on the Liberian government to establish a national trust fund to provide reparations and other assistance to victims of the country’s 14-year civil conflict.
The commission is seeking an initial allocation of US$250,000 to begin addressing the needs of war victims, many of whom continue to live with the physical, psychological and economic consequences of the conflict.
INCHR Acting Chairperson Cllr. Mohammed Fahnbulleh made the call Thursday during the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing in Monrovia, where he outlined ongoing reforms and initiatives undertaken by the commission.
According to Fahnbulleh, the commission has been advocating for the establishment of a victims’ trust fund as part of efforts to implement recommendations of Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
He explained that the TRC’s recommendations assigned the INCHR responsibilities relating to reparations and memorialization, but progress in providing direct assistance to victims has remained limited.
“We need to establish a victims’ trust fund,” Fahnbulleh said, emphasizing the importance of government financial support for the initiative.
He disclosed that the commission has already engaged the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in discussions over the proposed funding and is seeking an initial budgetary allocation of approximately US$250,000.
The INCHR official stressed that efforts to address atrocities committed during Liberia’s civil wars should extend beyond criminal prosecution to include meaningful assistance for survivors and families affected by the violence.
He argued that while accountability remains essential to addressing past human rights violations, reparations are equally important in helping victims rebuild their lives.
Fahnbulleh disclosed that the commission has already provided limited assistance to some war victims, including facilitating medical treatment for individuals requiring healthcare services.
However, he indicated that a properly funded national mechanism would enable the commission to respond more effectively to the needs of victims across the country.
The acting chairperson also reaffirmed the commission’s support for criminal accountability for individuals allegedly responsible for atrocities committed during the civil conflict.
He maintained that justice, reparations and memorialization should form part of Liberia’s broader efforts to address its violent past and promote national reconciliation.
On memorialization, Fahnbulleh disclosed that the INCHR has helped establish several memorials across Liberia in remembrance of those who lost their lives during the conflict.
He further revealed that the commission has secured land in Lofa County for the construction of a memorial honoring victims of past massacres.
According to him, preserving the memory of those killed during the war is an important part of ensuring that future generations understand the country’s history and the consequences of violent conflict.
Liberia’s two civil wars, which lasted from 1989 to 2003, left an estimated 250,000 people dead, displaced hundreds of thousands of others and devastated the country’s social and economic infrastructure.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, established following the conflict, recommended measures aimed at promoting accountability, national reconciliation, institutional reform and reparations for victims.
However, many of those recommendations have yet to be fully implemented, leaving unresolved questions about justice and compensation for survivors.
Fahnbulleh said the proposed trust fund would represent an important step toward addressing the longstanding needs of war victims while complementing efforts to pursue accountability for wartime atrocities.
He emphasized that Liberia’s response to its civil war legacy must recognize both the need to hold alleged perpetrators accountable and the responsibility to assist those who suffered during the conflict.
The INCHR has not announced a timetable for establishing the proposed fund, and the government has yet to publicly confirm approval of the requested US$250,000 allocation. -The New Dawn
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