Cyril Allen says he always talks with jailed former President Taylor

MONROVIA – The Chairman Emeritus of the National Patriotic Party (NPP), Chief Cyril Allen, has disclosed that he maintains regular communication with former Liberian President Charles Taylor, who reciprocates these exchanges regarding his family members back home.

Speaking to The Liberian Investigator via mobile phone on Tuesday in Monrovia, during the occasion marking Taylor’s 76th birthday, Chief Allen confirmed that the former President is in good health in his prison cell in the United Kingdom.

“I spoke with former President Charles Taylor earlier today. I extended birthday greetings to him, and he sounded well and appreciated my gesture,” Chief Allen remarked.

He further noted that it is not unusual for him to speak with Taylor, explaining that their conversations occur on a weekly or monthly basis. “I frequently check on him to know how he’s doing,” Allen said, adding that Taylor remains optimistic about his eventual release.

“Former President Taylor has no worries; he is confident that one day he will be free and return home,” Allen asserted. He also revealed that Taylor often provides instructions regarding condolences for bereaved NPP partisans.

Chief Allen emphasized that Taylor has no current interest in Liberia’s political affairs, focusing instead on seeking freedom from his incarceration in the UK.

Charles Taylor, who served as Liberia’s President from 1997 to 2003, was convicted in April 2012 on 11 charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other violations of international humanitarian law. These crimes were committed between November 30, 1996, and January 18, 2002, during Sierra Leone’s civil war. Taylor was sentenced to 50 years in prison by the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL).

The charges included five counts of war crimes, such as terrorizing civilians, murder, and looting; five counts of crimes against humanity, including rape, sexual slavery, and enslavement; and one count of recruiting and using child soldiers. The SCSL judges found Taylor guilty of aiding and abetting the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and planning attacks on Kono, Makeni, and Freetown in late 1998 and early 1999.

Despite Taylor’s absence, Chief Allen remains optimistic about the NPP’s future. He reiterated that the party remains strong in Liberia’s political landscape and appealed to its members to set aside their differences for the good of the institution and the nation.

Commenting on President Joseph Boakai’s State of the Nation Address, Chief Allen urged the President to diligently serve the Liberian people. “President Boakai should use his vast experience in government to address pressing issues on Capitol Hill and tackle the bread-and-butter concerns of Liberians,” he stated.