Published: February 11, 2025
Monrovia – The Executive Director of the Office for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court (OWECC), Dr. Jallah Barbu, has outlined significant progress made in the three months since the issuance of Executive Order 131, which created the Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court and a Special Court for Anti-Corruption.
Speaking at a recent interactive forum with the media, Dr. Barbu acknowledged existing challenges but emphasized that his office is working expeditiously to ensure the hybrid War and Economic Crimes Court, along with the Special Court for Anti-Corruption, is established and fully functional within the remaining five years of President Joseph Boakai’s administration.
“The court will be established, operationalized, indict individuals, and conduct trials within President Boakai’s first term,” he asserted.
Dr. Barbu stressed that the court would position Liberia on the right trajectory by delivering justice to victims and survivors while also allowing the accused the opportunity to clear their names. He clarified that being indicted for war or economic crimes would not automatically imply guilt, as the court would ensure a free and fair trial devoid of any preconceived motives. He also dismissed public speculations that the court is being set up to target specific individuals, such as the late former Senator Prince Johnson.
He praised President Boakai for demonstrating courage and political will in establishing the court after years of Liberia’s civil conflict. According to him, the president has assured that funding for the court will come primarily from the Liberian government, with additional support from foreign partners. He stressed that the court’s establishment should be owned by Liberians nationwide, rather than being a process centered only in Monrovia.
“We are moving forward; we see no barriers or hurdles in establishing the court,” Dr. Barbu added.
He highlighted several key achievements within a short period, including securing office space, engaging civil society stakeholders, developing a roadmap, conducting study tours to Sierra Leone and Ethiopia, launching a website, and initiating a high school competition to design a court logo. Additionally, his office is collaborating with the Law Reform Commission to address legal challenges, such as the Supreme Court’s role as the final arbiter of justice and existing laws restricting legal practice in Liberia to Liberians only.
Dr. Barbu called for collective support in facilitating the court’s establishment, expressing gratitude to the government for an initial allocation of US$368,000 and an additional US$313,000 in the 2025 fiscal budget. However, he noted that this falls short of the projected operational costs. A comprehensive progress report has been submitted to the president’s office for review.
He also acknowledged the UK government for providing US$5,000 to fund the delegation’s study tour in Sierra Leone and the Swiss government for donating essential office furniture.
Meanwhile, Dr. Barbu is seeking a partnership with the Liberian media to ensure accurate and effective reporting on the war crimes court process. He emphasized that the OWECC intends to launch a nationwide public awareness and consultation campaign, with the media playing a key role in shaping public discourse.
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