Monrovia – Two key members of the international community have called on the Liberian government to take concrete steps in supporting the functioning of the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court (OWECC), that will lead to the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) and the National Corruption Court (NACC).
Both the Government of Sweden and the European Union (EU) stressed that accountability and justice remain critical for Liberia’s future, and as such, the function and activities of the OWECC must be given the needed support.
Speaking at a media capacity-building workshop in Monrovia, Swedish Ambassador to Liberia Karl Backéus underscored the need for the Government of Liberia (GoL) to demonstrate stronger commitment to the process by providing direct support to the OWECC.
“We need to see further steps taken by the government of Liberia in terms of funding and support to the OWECC. The international community remains committed, but this process must be Liberia’s own,” he noted.
He reaffirmed Sweden’s commitment to supporting Liberia’s state-building program, especially efforts linked to transitional justice, truth-telling, and human rights defense, but on the issue of the WECC establishment, he wants Liberia to take the matter as its own.
“The international community remains committed to supporting the process. We have provided some support to the Human Office here and some went towards the OWECC. Some went towards support of other transitional justice programs. But it is for Liberia and it needs to be Liberia’s own.”
The Swedish envoy also stressed the pressing need for accurate and fact-based reporting to support transitional justice efforts in Liberia.
He emphasized that without the involvement of the media, Liberia’s push for accountability through the OWECC would falter.
“Without journalists, there will be no free press. Good, accurate, and fact-based reporting is fundamental for accountability and for Liberia to move forward,” Ambassador Backéus said.
Ambassador Nona Deprez, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Liberia, similarly cautioned that while the international funding for the court would be limited or not forthcoming, there is a need for the Liberian government to shoulder much of the responsibility.
The EU diplomat urged the government to seize the opportunity at the United National Security Council (UNSC) to raise the profile to request funding for the WECC based on its importance.
Prior to the Boakai administration, the Liberian government made little effort to implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which called for the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court. However, with President Boakai’s support, Executive Order 151 established the office tasked with setting up the court—a milestone development.
Now, pro–War Crimes Court campaigners and international partners say it is time to galvanize support to fully establish the court. They emphasize that efforts must begin on the domestic front before seeking assistance from international partners.
“There will be little international funding, so it has to be funded by Liberia,” Ambassador Deprez said.
But on the overall, the Head of the EU Delegation craved that GoL translates its commitment into tangible support for the OWECC – a critical step toward establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) and the National Corruption Court (NACC).
The Liberia government, though allotted US$2M in the 2025 National Budget towards the support of activities of the OWECC; however, a just a pinch of US$368,000 of that amount has so far been released to the Office for its operations with the budget year nearing an end.
Speaking further, she encouraged the Liberian media to play an active role in the court’s outreach and in countering misinformation and disinformation.
Amb. Deprez pointed out that journalists are vital in bridging the gap between the OWECC and communities, including victims in remote areas.
“Your role as a journalist is important. These workshops will help you support the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court. The media must support the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court to track disinformation and help them engage with remote society.”
The two-day workshop, organized by New Narratives with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, aimed to train leading journalists and editors on the fundamentals of international human rights law, the mechanisms for establishing a court, and how to effectively cover Liberia’s transitional justice process.
The program also sought to educate journalists on the future of the War and Economic Crimes Court and the National Anti-Corruption Court, their jurisdictions, and operational frameworks. Participants were equipped with tools for high-quality, fact-based, and trauma-informed reporting, designed to identify and counter misinformation. Additionally, the workshop aimed to strengthen collaboration between journalists, key stakeholders, and duty bearers, enhancing the overall coverage of Liberia’s transitional justice process.
