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Former warlord and Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson, on Thursday, November 28, passed away after experiencing a fall at his home, resulting in a coma from which he did not recover, family sources said.
Senator Johnson, known for his controversial actions during the Liberian civil war, including the infamous incident of his involvement in the cutting off of the nation’s former president’s ears, continued his involvement in politics post-war and was elected as a senator in 2006.
Reports indicate that Senator Johnson, who had recently returned from Nimba County after attending an event honoring the late Gnassingbe Eyadema, former President of Togo, passed away on Thursday at a local hospital in Paynesville. The senator’s sudden demise at the Hope for Women Hospital in Paynesville came as a surprise to many.
The cause of Senator Johnson’s death remains undisclosed, as the family has chosen not to divulge this information. Senator Johnson, who led the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL) following a rift with former President Charles Taylor, is among several warlords implicated in the TRC report for alleged crimes, yet have evaded a trial, including individuals like Alhaji G.V. Kromah and George Dweh. Johnson, known for his role in the killing of former Liberian President Samuel K. Doe, remains a controversial figure in Liberia’s history.
Senator Johnson, who held office as one of Liberia’s longest-serving senators until his passing, represented Nimba County across four Legislatures. He chaired significant Senate committees on Security, Intelligence, Veteran Affairs, as well as Internal Affairs, Governance, and Reconciliation during his tenure. Additionally, Johnson was a longstanding member of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, Nigeria.
President Joseph Boakai expressed profound sorrow upon learning of the sudden passing of Johnson, describing the former Nimba County senator as a figure who played a pivotal role in Liberia’s complex historical evolution and contributed to national discourse through his service in the Senate.
The President recognized Senator Johnson’s legislative contributions and reconciliation efforts in a statement from the Executive Mansion, conveying condolences to the Johnson family and the people of Nimba County.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, I extend heartfelt condolences to the Johnson family and the people of our industrious County of Nimba,” President Boakai said in a statement on the Executive Mansion’s website. “While we may not have always agreed on the path our nation pursued, we recognize the impact of his work and his dedication to representing the people of Nimba County in the Liberian Senate.”
Former President Weah also expressed sadness at the passing of Senator Johnson. Various dignitaries, including Vice President Koung and lawmakers from diverse political backgrounds, visited the Johnson family home in Paynesville to offer condolences, underscoring the mixed opinions surrounding Senator Johnson’s legacy.
Known for his controversial role in Liberia’s history, Senator Johnson led the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL) and was a figure indicted under the TRC report for atrocities committed during the civil war.
Senator Johnson’s death has sparked mixed reactions, with some expressing disappointment that he did not face justice for his alleged crimes. Despite his divisive reputation, Senator Johnson had supporters who regarded him as a hero, particularly among his kinsmen in Nimba County.
The news of Senator Johnson’s passing has left war victims and survivors calling for more decisive actions in pursuit of accountability and justice, emphasizing the need to address the unresolved issues surrounding his involvement in the Liberian civil war.
Concerns have been raised about the implications of individuals like Senator Johnson passing away without facing accountability and the need to accelerate efforts towards achieving justice for war crimes in Liberia.
The Rise of a Warlord
Prince Johnson’s notoriety dates back to the Liberian Civil War, where he led the INPFL, a splinter faction of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL).
Johnson’s forces controlled Bushrod Island, a strategic area in Monrovia, which he used to cement his influence and execute one of the war’s most gruesome episodes: the capture and murder of President Samuel Doe.
In a chilling display of treachery, Johnson tricked President Doe into entering the Freeport of Monrovia to meet with Ecomog Field Commander Brigadier General Arnold Quanoo. Once inside, Johnson’s forces disarmed the soldiers accompanying Doe and launched a brutal assault.
The captured president was driven to Johnson’s Caldwell base, where he was tortured and humiliated. In a scene recorded on video and broadcast globally, Johnson oversaw the mutilation of Doe, including the severing of his ears, before the president succumbed to his injuries. His body was later burned, marking a grim symbol of the chaos engulfing Liberia.
After surviving an assassination attempt during Charles Taylor’s Operation Octopus in 1992, Johnson fled Liberia, seeking refuge in Nigeria. For years, he lived in relative obscurity until the political landscape in Liberia shifted.
With Taylor jailed by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Johnson returned to Liberia and reinvented himself as a politician.
Elected to the Senate, Johnson remained a controversial figure. He was unapologetic about his wartime actions, often justifying them as necessary measures against President Doe, whom he accused of plotting to oppress the people of Nimba County. Despite his violent past, Johnson gained significant political support, particularly from his Nimba County constituents, and was even viewed as a kingmaker in national politics.
In later years, Prince Johnson embraced religion, becoming a pastor and founding a church in his community. However, his dual identity as a man of faith and a former warlord raised questions about accountability and justice. Calls for the establishment of a war crimes court in Liberia grew louder in recent years, with Johnson among the prominent figures implicated in wartime atrocities. Initially resistant, he eventually expressed tentative support for the court, acknowledging the need for Liberia to confront its past.
Prince Johnson’s death comes at a time when Liberia is still grappling with the scars of its civil war. While many of his contemporaries have also passed away, the push for justice and reconciliation remains a pressing issue. Johnson’s life, filled with contradictions, serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of post-conflict societies. He was a man who won many battles in war but left behind a legacy of unresolved questions about justice, accountability, and the path forward for Liberia
As some Liberians mourn and reflects on the death of one of its most controversial figures, the nation faces a pivotal moment. The absence of Prince Johnson and other key players from the civil war era provides an opportunity for Liberians to focus on building a future rooted in unity, justice, and development. The push for a war crimes court and other mechanisms of accountability may serve as a means to heal the wounds of the past while ensuring that future generations learn from the tragedies that shaped their nation.
In the end, Prince Johnson’s life and death symbolize Liberia’s struggle to reconcile its painful history with the promise of a brighter tomorrow.
