By Desmond Gbeleh Wion
Monrovia – The recent visit of United States Ambassador to Liberia, Mark Toner, to the Office for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court (OWECC-L) has sparked fresh concerns about the Boakai administration’s seriousness in delivering justice.
During the visit, Ambassador Toner toured the OWECC-L office, met with staff, and received updates on the institution’s activities and challenges. While the visit was marked by smiles and goodwill messages, the Ambassador’s remarks pointed to a deeper problem: the government’s weak support for the very office it created to spearhead the fight for justice.
Ambassador Toner acknowledged the poor funding facing OWECC-L and called for stronger action, stressing that the Liberian government must convince the international community that it truly wants a war crimes court. His comments came after Executive Director Dr. Jallah A. Barbu revealed that staff at OWECC-L have not received salaries for three months, despite their continued work.
Observers say the situation raises serious questions about the Boakai administration’s commitment to one of its key campaign promises. Critics argue that while President Boakai and his team spoke loudly about justice during elections, their actions since taking office have shown little urgency.
“How can a government that claims to be serious about justice leave its own war crimes court office dry and struggling to survive?” one civil society actor asked. “You can’t fight war crimes with big speeches. You need money, political will, and real action.”
The frustration at OWECC-L was clear during the Ambassador’s visit. Though Dr. Barbu praised the staff’s dedication and highlighted progress in outreach and drafting key documents, he did not hide his disappointment with the lack of financial support.
“We are not discouraged but we are not happy with the trend,” Dr. Barbu said, pointing out that despite the hardships, the team continues to push forward in building the foundation for justice.
The visit comes just days before the expiration of Executive Order No. 131, which created the OWECC-L. Ambassador Toner expressed hope that the order will be renewed but stopped short of offering firm assurances of U.S. funding, signaling that Liberia must first show it is serious about backing its own efforts.
Many Liberians are now wondering whether the so-called “Rescue Mission” government is slowly abandoning its promises of accountability. With former warlords and corrupt officials still holding influence, there are growing fears that justice could once again be sacrificed on the altar of politics.
For now, the message from the U.S. Ambassador is clear: Liberia must put its money where its mouth is. The world is watching, and Liberians, tired of empty promises, are watching even closer.
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