Liberia: CSOs Press Boakai to End Courts' Delays

What the report says

A Liberian civil society coalition is urging President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s government to speed up work on two long-discussed special courts: the War and Economic Crimes Court and the National Anti-Corruption Court. In a statement reported by the Liberian Observer and carried by AllAfrica, the National Civil Society Consortium for Transitional Justice said continued delays are weakening public trust, reinforcing impunity and raising questions about Liberia’s credibility as it prepares for a rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council in December 2026.

The coalition said the administration still needs enabling legislation, budget support and an operational structure to make the courts function. It noted that while the government has created an office to help establish the war crimes court, that step alone is not enough without laws that define jurisdiction, procedures and funding. The group wants Boakai and lawmakers to move from consultations to concrete action, including passage of the two bills and allocations in the 2027 national budget.

The advocacy centers on two related issues: accountability for abuses committed during Liberia’s civil wars and stronger prosecution of corruption in public office. The coalition argued that survivors of conflict have waited too long for truth, remedy and justice, while persistent corruption continues to drain resources from basic services. It also framed the courts as important to Liberia’s broader reconciliation, governance and rule-of-law efforts.

The group said Liberia’s incoming Security Council role makes domestic action especially important, since the country will be speaking internationally on peace, human rights and anti-corruption while key justice reforms remain unfinished at home.