The Transitional Justice Working Group of Liberia (TJWG), a consortium of over 25 civil society organizations, has issued a press statement addressing the current state of affairs regarding the appointment of the Executive Director of the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia.
In the statement, the TJWG acknowledged the steps taken by the Liberian government to address the issues of justice and accountability, including the submission of a communication to the United Nations regarding the establishment of a war and economic crimes court.
The group also recognized the appointment of the Executive Director as a “remarkable opportunity” for all Liberians, including civil society institutions.
However, the TJWG noted that there has been some dissatisfaction, especially from some civil society groups, over the lack of consultation before the appointment.
The group argued that it is “paradoxical” how some civil society institutions secretly recommended individuals from their ranks to the President without consulting their fellow civil society actors.
The TJWG emphasized that it is the leading civil society initiative on transitional justice in Liberia, and it is committed to the outcome of the “Civil Society Roundtable on Transitional Justice and the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia” held at the Swedish Embassy in Monrovia on July 25, 2024.
During the roundtable, the TJWG stated that the majority of civil society speakers, including victim groups, acknowledged that consultation before the appointment was a prudent way for the government to proceed, but they favored moving forward rather than continuous bickering over the appointment.
The TJWG is now calling on all civil society actors, the Liberian government, and international partners to respect the outcome of the Swedish Embassy Roundtable and work towards resolving the concerns peacefully. The group expressed confidence that the impasse will be resolved, and the Liberian people will ultimately benefit.