By By: Staff Writer
U.S.A — A Unity Party diaspora member has called for the replacement of Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lewis Brown, saying the appointment affects the establishment of the proposed War and Economic Crimes Court.
Thomas Ansumana, a ranking member of the Unity Party Diaspora East Coast, cited the December 2024 nomination of Brown to the UN post. Brown is listed in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report among individuals recommended for prosecution related to Liberia’s civil wars. “The War and Economic Crimes Court will never be in force as long as Lewis Brown represents Liberia at the United Nations,” Ansumana stated. He added that he raised the issue in a December 6, 2024, Heritage Newspaper article: “I pleaded to the president to reconsider his decision but it bounced on hard rock. Today it is evident what I said… is coming to reality.”
The Office for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court-Liberia (OWECC-L) said this week that progress on the court has slowed. Executive Director Dr. Cllr. Jallah A. Barbu stated Tuesday that two draft laws submitted by his office had not been reviewed by the Ministry of Justice, the Presidential Legal Advisor, and the National Security Advisor. “These actions and inactions are undermining progress,” Barbu said. “We cannot afford to fail the victims of our past. Justice delayed is justice denied.”
On April 23, the Ministry of Justice responded at a dialogue convened by the European Union and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Ministry said claims that it is impeding the process are “false and misleading.” It noted that multiple draft bills exist and are being harmonized into one bill for the Legislature. The Ministry added that two Executive Orders have already established OWECC-L, and attributed delays to the technical work of aligning draft instruments and to “gaps in cooperation with OWECC-L.”
Regarding funding, the Ministry stated that 2025 disbursements to OWECC-L were withheld by the Ministry of Finance “due to the absence of a government-compliant spending plan.” It said the Ministry of Justice has a supervisory role over OWECC-L but has limited involvement to preserve the office’s operational independence. The Minister extended an invitation to OWECC-L leadership for discussions to finalize the bill and agree on a funding framework. “The people and victims of Liberia deserve truth, justice, and reconciliation,” the Ministry’s statement said.
