The center for Democratic Governance (CDG) has released a full AFRObarometer survey report on Liberia flagging citizens continues desire for the full establishment and operation of the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC).
The report covering citizens from all parts of the country show that despite the fact that Liberia has enjoyed uninterrupted peace for more than two decades; victims of the civil war are still being reminded of how they got affected from the dark days.
The 2024 reports coming in a time where the regime is seemed to be standing firmed in making strive for the establishment of the WECC also highlighted the urgent need for perpetrator of the civil crisis to begin giving account for their actions.
According to the team of researchers from the Center for Democratic Governance, the survey was conducted in person using the face-to-face engagement approach with the people in order to get their actual realistic responses to questions related to the WECC for Liberia.
According to the survey, 78% of respondents believe the court will help hold those responsible for war crimes accountable.
Awareness of the government’s plan to establish the court is high, with 84% of Liberians saying they have heard about it.
The findings indicate growing public demand for justice, despite past divisions on whether to revisit the country’s painful history.
In 2022, while 70% of Liberians supported the court’s creation, 61% also expressed a desire to move on from past atrocities.
The AFRObarometer survey, conducted between July 30 and August 21, 2024, included 1,200 adult Liberians from diverse backgrounds.
It found strong support for the WECC across all demographics, with urban residents and educated citizens being particularly in favor.
The push for accountability follows years of debate over implementing recommendations from Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which in 2009, called for the prosecution of key warlords.
While few of the perpetrators have faced international trials, Liberia recently through President Boakai issued an executive order establishing the office of the WECC.
The survey results suggest a shift in public sentiment, signaling a potential turning point for justice and reconciliation efforts in the country.
With overwhelming support for the court, the government may now face increased pressure to fast track the forward march of the court and its implementation.
Validating the actuality of the AFRObarometer survey findings was the chairperson of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights Counselor (INCHR) Dempster Browne who affirmed that the court is the real solution to deal with the culture of impunity in Liberia.
The commissioner revealed that the human rights commission is still documenting sites across the country that show that the atrocities committed during the civil war have a lasting impact on the country and the victims.
He alleged that some of those that contributed hugely to massive destructions are now holding public offices; they are using their influences to undermine the current efforts to establish the court.
“The findings in this report are just what Liberians are saying in every part of the country and don’t let anybody to tell you that there is a need for ‘bad-gone’ to be ‘bad-gone’ without criminal accountability of warlords and those that carried the country to those dark days,” he urged.
Commissioner Browne committed the INCHR’s willingness to work with data in the CDG AFRObarometer for the full establishment and operation of the WECC, which he said is underway.
