Momentum for Justice in Liberia On Wednesday April 7, 2021, a Finnish court concluded the Gibril Massaquoi case hearings in Monrovia, Liberia, which began on February 23. 21 days of hearings, during which 55 witnesses were heard and interrogated by Finnish prosecutors and defense lawyers. Gibril Massaquoi, former RUF (Revolutionary United Front) spokesman and commander, has been charged […]
The Case of Liberian Child Soldiers
The Case of Liberian Child Soldiers There are a number of international legal instruments intended to safeguard children. These include the UN Declaration on the Rights of Children, stating that “the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care”, as well as the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the two […]
The Massaquoi trial Q&A
The Massaquoi trial Q&A The Finnish trial of Sierra Leonean national, Gibril Massaquoi, started in February in Finland but hearings of victims and witnesses will be conducted by Finnish judges in Liberia and then in Sierra Leone. This trial is spurring a lot of discussion and debate, not only because it sits within the broader […]
How far should suspected war criminals who denounce others be protected? Finland has decided
This article first appeared on LeTemps on the 8th of February 2021. How far should suspected war criminals who denounce others be protected? Finland has decided Gibril Massaquoi, who the press has dubbed “the Judas of Sierra Leone”, did not see his own arrest coming, having so masterfully caused the arrest of his former brothers […]
Finland has demonstrated its support for the victims and for the fight against impunity
Finland has demonstrated its support for the victims and for the fight against impunity Liberia was the theatre of one of Africa’s most brutal conflicts – the first and second civil wars of 1989-1997 and 1999-2003, respectively. The wars not only destroyed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Liberians, but eventually spilled into neighbouring […]
Liberian history in the making: groundbreaking decision regarding Gibril Massaquoi’s trial
Liberian history in the making: groundbreaking decision regarding Gibril Massaquoi’s trial An international war crimes trial has commenced in Finland today, in the Pirkanmaa District Court, concerning atrocity crimes allegedly committed and incited by Gibril Massaquoi in far-away Liberia. Unlike most war crimes trials in front of domestic courts, which are de-facto very distant from the time […]
Jungle Jabbah: Maximum Sentence Confirmed
Today, September 8, 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia
rejected Mohammed Jabbateh’s appeal, upholding his conviction and 30-year prison sentence.
New dates set for Alieu Kosiah Trial in 2020
Press Release – 21 August 2020 New dates set for Alieu Kosiah Trial in 2020 Today, the Swiss Federal Criminal Court announced that new dates have been set for the trial of Alieu Kosiah, former United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO) commander. After being postponed twice due to the spread of COVID-19, the […]
Protect Human Rights Defenders in Liberia
Protect Human Rights Defenders in Liberia August 5, 2020 — Recent credible threats against human rights defenders who, for many years, have been fighting for justice alongside victims of Liberia’s civil wars are a source of great concern, nine human rights organizations said today. The threats were made to staff of the well-respected Global Justice […]
Agnes Reeves Taylor vs The Truth
Agnes Reeves Taylor vs The Truth On July 27, 2020, Agnes Reeves Taylor, who recently left the United Kingdom (UK), held a press conference in Monrovia, Liberia, during which she spoke in great detail about her incarceration and the torture case against her in the UK. Ms Reeves Taylor stated that the purpose of the press conference […]
