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While the apology is a step in the direction of reconciliation, Liberia’s leadership has long been criticised for failing to prosecute the perpetrators of potential war crimes.
Liberia’s president issued a formal state apology to the victims of the country’s two civil wars between 1989 and 2003 on Saturday, during an official ceremony.
An estimated 250 000 people died during the two conflicts, with many more wounded or psychologically broken by rape, massacres, or because they were mutilated or forced to be child soldiers.
While the apology is a step in the direction of reconciliation, Liberia’s leadership has long been criticised for failing to prosecute the perpetrators of potential war crimes. Prosecutions have taken place in foreign tribunals, notably in Switzerland, France, Sweden, and the United States, but none in Liberia.
In 2024, Liberia’s government endorsed a vote to set up a long-awaited tribunal of its own. The main challenge in the process is the funding required for the court, which has been estimated at US$100 million.
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The decision to set up the tribunal has been welcomed internationally, with both individual countries and the United Nations encouraging the political will in Liberia to prosecute war criminals.
