Published: August 16, 2024
Monrovia– President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has reversed the contentious appointment of Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi as Executive Director for the Office for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court. The decision comes amid mounting public pressure and concerns raised by civil society groups regarding Massaquoi’s history of representing individuals accused of war crimes.
The President’s new directive seeks to reconstitute the office and establish a Search and Vetting Committee to identify a suitable candidate for the executive director role. According to a statement from the Ministry of Information, the committee’s formation underscores the President’s commitment to transparency and ensuring that Liberia’s transitional justice efforts are free from ethical controversies.
“The decision to reconstitute the Office for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court reaffirms President Boakai’s commitment to an inclusive and transparent process,” said Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah. “The President is determined to ensure that this important office reflects the broader aspirations of justice and accountability within Liberia.”
The new Search and Vetting Committee will be chaired by the Ministry of Justice and will include representatives from civil society, human rights organizations, regional and international stakeholders like ECOWAS and the United Nations, and other key actors. The committee has been given 21 working days to provide its recommendations.
This move follows a wave of criticism from the Coalition for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia (CEWAECCL) and the broader human rights community. They had strongly objected to Massaquoi’s appointment, citing his prior legal defense of high-profile war crimes indictees such as Agnes Reeves Taylor, the ex-wife of former President Charles Taylor, and Gebril Massaquoi, a Sierra Leonean accused of atrocities during Liberia’s civil war. The groups argued that appointing someone with such a history undermined the credibility and integrity of Liberia’s pursuit of justice for war victims.
“How can someone who has actively defended alleged perpetrators of gross human rights violations be entrusted with leading an office meant to ensure justice for those very crimes?” questioned Adama Dempster, a leading human rights campaigner, in a statement.
The controversy had further intensified when U.S. Congressman Chris Smith appeared to endorse Massaquoi’s appointment, a move that civil society groups called “premature and deeply troubling.” They argued that international partners should maintain neutrality and allow Liberians to lead the justice process free from external influence.
Earlier responding to the backlash, the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court had defended Massaquoi, asserting that his role as a defense attorney should not be conflated with his ability to serve in a public capacity. They invoked constitutional protections regarding the right to legal representation and noted that many defense attorneys globally have transitioned into public service roles without facing similar scrutiny.
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