The Executive Director of the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court, Cllr. Jallah A. Barbu, has renewed calls for justice and accountability for victims of Liberia’s brutal civil conflicts.
Speaking during the dedication of the Sabo Woffieken Memorial in River Gee County, built to honor victims of the November 11, 1994, massacre, Cllr. Barbu reminded Liberians of their collective pledge after the 2003 peace agreement: to avoid a return to war, but also not to forget the atrocities committed. “The people who did the bad things in this country must answer why they did them,” he emphasized, noting that, two decades later, Liberia still awaits a court to address war and economic crimes.
He praised President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for taking steps toward establishing the court, recalling the President’s campaign promise and issuance of Executive Order No. 131, which created the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court. “This office is not the court itself,” Barbu clarified, “but it is here to help prepare the ground so that the court can be fully established.”
Acknowledging the personal risks associated with his role, Cllr. Barbu said some individuals currently in government could face accountability. “Even if I must die for the sake of the court, I will make sure the process does not stop,” he declared, calling for nationwide prayers and support for the initiative.
He stressed that justice is essential for national healing, emphasizing that victims’ souls cannot rest until truth and accountability are pursued. “How can the souls of those killed rest in peace when their bodies were dumped without dignity?” he asked.
As part of decentralizing the process, Cllr. Barbu announced plans to establish a regional office in River Gee to serve River Gee, Grand Gedeh, and Maryland counties. “This is not about people in Monrovia deciding for you, but Liberians everywhere saying what they want,” he said, emphasizing the inclusion of local voices in shaping the court’s processes.
The dedication ceremony was both solemn and symbolic, as residents reflected on the horrors of the 1994 massacre while expressing hope that the memorial and the eventual establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court would mark the beginning of true reconciliation and justice in Liberia.
