Liberia's President Joseph Boakai to set up first war crimes court - BBC News

An estimated 250,000 people were killed in Liberia's two civil wars between 1989 and 2003.

4 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Liberia's civil war forced thousands of people to fleeBy Moses Kollie GarzeawuBBC News, MonroviaLiberian President Joseph Boakai has signed an executive order to establish the country's first war crimes court, more than 20 years after the end of two civil wars which killed 250,000 people.

Mr Boakai said Liberia had "endured downpours of agony".

The 1989-2003 conflicts saw atrocities including mass killings, rape and the forced recruitment of child soldiers.

Critics in Liberia have opposed the creation of the court, saying it risks reopening old wounds.

But Mr Boakai said the court would "help ferret the causes and effects of the violence" and bring about "justice and healing".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-68946897

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