Martina Johnson’s referral to trial marks a decade-long pursuit of justice by Civitas Maxima and Liberian victims. From a little-known 2014 arrest to a landmark case, it reflects sustained efforts advancing accountability for international crimes and contributing to broader justice initiatives in Liberia and beyond.
Today, Belgian judges referred Martina Johnson, former NPFL commander under Charles Taylor, to trial before the Ghent Assize Court for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Liberia’s 1992 Operation Octopus.
After over a decade of investigations, the Ghent Court of First Instance has closed the investigation against Martina Johnson, accused of war crimes during Liberia’s civil war. A hearing will now determine if the case goes to trial.
Martina Johnson was allegedly involved in mutilations and mass killings during the first Liberian Civil War. Thirty years later, Johnson has yet to stand trial. In October 1992, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) forced hundreds of mostly intoxicated child soldiers to attack Liberia’s Capital Monrovia. They were part of “Operation Octopus”, a four-month-long […]
Justice Delayed, Justice Denied? By Kelsey Guthrie-Jones, Capacity Building Coordinator and Legal Counsel at Civitas Maxima Civitas Maxima and the GJRP have seen many successes in the eight years since our establishment in 2012. Across Europe and in the U.S., we have contributed to the arrest, and/or conviction of 8 high-ranking former commanders or officials of […]
Martina Johnson, Former Liberian NPFLRebel Commander, Arrested And Indicted In Belgium For Alleged War Crimes And Crimes Against Humanity First arrest ever for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committedduring the 1st Liberian civil war (1989-1996). Martina Johnson, a former front line Commander of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) of Charles Taylor […]
