Liberian refugees
in Guinea have expressed strong support for returning home but have made establishing a War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) a key
precondition for their return.
The refugees made the disclosure Tuesday, October 6, 2026,
during an outreach engagement organized at the Liberian Embassy in Conakry,
Guinea, as part of ongoing efforts to engage Liberians living outside the
country on Liberia’s transitional justice process.
Reading a statement on behalf of the Liberian community in
Conakry, Community President Kollie Bobo said establishing the War and Economic Crimes Court would most clearly express the government
and people of Liberia’s commitment to justice for victims and survivors of the
country’s civil wars.
According to him, many Liberians who remain outside the
country are willing and prepared to return but want assurances that the painful
experiences of the past will be addressed through a credible justice process.
He said the establishment of the WECC would be “the surest
way” of demonstrating Liberia’s intent to provide justice to victims and
survivors of the war while helping to strengthen reconciliation,
accountability, and lasting peace.
The Liberian community in Guinea also expressed strong
support for the establishment of a National Anti-Corruption Court (NACC),
describing it as an important instrument in the fight against corruption and
the protection of Liberia’s natural resources.
The community said the Anti-Corruption Court would send a
strong message to the international community that Liberians are prepared to
ensure that the proceeds from their country’s abundant natural resources are
used responsibly for national development rather than being diverted into
individual pockets with impunity.
The refugees further emphasized that justice and
accountability should form an important part of Liberia’s efforts to rebuild
trust among citizens, including those who were displaced by the civil conflict
and have remained in neighboring countries for years.
Responding to the concerns and aspirations of the Liberian
community, Cllr. Asatu Bah-Kenneth, of the OWECC-L National Outreach Campaign
and Director of the Anti-Corruption Division, reaffirmed the Liberian
Government’s commitment to establishing the two justice instruments.
Cllr. Kenneth informed the gathering that the Government of
Liberia, through the Office for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes
Court for Liberia (OWECC-L), remains committed to advancing the process leading
to the establishment of both the War and Economic Crimes Court and the National
Anti-Corruption Court.
She explained that the ongoing national and diaspora
outreach engagements are intended to ensure that Liberians, including those
living outside the country, are informed about the transitional justice process
and have an opportunity to express their views, concerns, and expectations.
Cllr. Kenneth welcomed the support expressed by the Liberian
community in Guinea, noting that the voices of victims, survivors, refugees, and
the wider Liberian population are important to the success and legitimacy of
Liberia’s transitional justice process.
She stressed that the establishment of the two courts is not
only about accountability for past wrongs but also about building a Liberia
where justice, integrity, responsible governance, and respect for the rule of
law are upheld.
The Conakry engagement forms part of OWECC-L’s continuing
outreach campaign among Liberians in the diaspora, aimed at increasing public
awareness, gathering views, and strengthening national ownership of Liberia’s
transitional justice and anti-corruption agenda.
The Liberian community in Guinea welcomed the engagement and
reaffirmed its willingness to contribute to efforts aimed at building a more
peaceful, accountable, and prosperous Liberia.
