Weala, Margibi County, May 18, 2026: Citizens of Weala have renewed impassioned calls for the immediate establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) in Liberia, asserting that justice, accountability, and national healing must no longer be delayed.
This demand was brought to the forefront during a one-day Transitional Justice Awareness Program held on May 15, 2026.
The program, organized by the Transitional Justice Working Group of Liberia (TJWG) alongside key transitional justice stakeholders, aimed to enhance public understanding of the WECC and the National Anti-Corruption Court (NACC), as well as draft bills for both courts and Executive Order 164, which renews the mandate of the Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia (OWECC-L).
The event convened community members, students, civil society organizations, representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and officials from OWECC-L, led by Executive Director Dr. Cllr. Jallah A. Barbu.
Many Weala residents openly voiced their frustration over decades of impunity, urging lawmakers to expedite the establishment of the WECC.
They emphasized that Liberia’s progress is hindered as long as individuals accused of war crimes and large-scale corruption remain unaccountable. Residents insisted that justice is essential for lasting peace, recalling the suffering endured during Liberia’s civil conflict.
“We need justice for the innocent people who died. The War and Economic Crimes Court must come so that the truth can be told and those responsible can face the law,” one resident declared in an open forum.
TJWG head Martin Nlonjae Toe Sr., addressing the gathering on the theme “Making Justice and Accountability for Atrocities and Corruption Meaningful,” echoed the community’s concerns.
He described the establishment of the WECC and NACC as crucial to ending Liberia’s entrenched culture of impunity, offering hope to war victims and a mechanism to fight corruption in public institutions.
Toe stressed that a combination of criminal prosecutions, truth-telling, reparations, and institutional reform is required for sustainable peace and accountability.
Dr. Cllr. Jallah A. Barbu provided an overview of the draft laws recently submitted to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, clarifying that the WECC will address crimes committed during the civil conflict from 1979 to 2003, while the NACC will handle corruption-related offenses.
He noted the NACC draft law includes a lifetime ban from public office for those convicted of corruption and called on citizens to engage lawmakers to ensure the passage of these bills.
Speakers at the event highlighted President Boakai’s renewal of OWECC-L’s mandate and urged all Liberians to support the transitional justice process.
The Weala awareness program is part of broader national efforts to strengthen public participation in Liberia’s transitional justice process.
For Weala’s citizens, the message is clear: the time for justice is now. Their call amplifies the nationwide demand for accountability and reflects a growing public desire for a Liberia built on truth, justice, and the rule of law.
