August 26, 2019

Peace and justice should be Liberia’s guiding light

topic:	Peace and Reconciliation
located:	Liberia, Ghana
editor:	Bob Koigi

For 14 years, Liberia descended into a bloodbath occasioned by sectarianism, which claimed more than 250,000 lives, displaced millions and brought the West African country into economic and political ruins. Because of this conflict, Liberia has become synonymous with child soldiers as images of children brandishing guns and shooting indiscriminately were splashed by the international media.

The journey towards peace, reconciliation and healing has been long and painful but the efforts have paid off. From the many accords and peace agreements since 2003 – when the country opted for a ceasefire – to the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement through which the stability of the nation rests, it has taken collective duty to embrace truce. As the country celebrates 16 years of normalcy and peace, the pivotal role of women throughout the process cannot be gainsaid. Having carried the brunt of the conflict, Liberia has shifted the focus from passively calling for an end to the war, to actively organising daily sit-ins at the presidential palace, participating in street protests and corridor lobbying where they would wait for negotiators during breaks at mediation meetings in order to pressure the government to not leave without a peace plan. These actions are greatly credited with birthing the Accra accord.

Yet for Liberia, just as is the case of countries recovering from conflict, peace should go beyond the silence of guns. While the numerous active peace building initiatives have ensured that the country doesn’t slide into further anarchy, recent violence on a by-election and pockets of violence that have been reported in the recent past point to the fragile state of peace.

President George Weah, who took office on the promise of upholding peace, rule of law and reconciliation should ensure his government restores the confidence of two crucial institutions: the judiciary and the police whose public trust continue to wane. But more importantly, the government’s development strategy, whose key tenets include sustaining the peace and upholding justice, should ensure historical injustices are equally addressed amicably to prevent any future flare-ups.

Key among this is the contentious war crimes court that was recommended by the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2009. While opinion is divided on whether the country needs it, the ultimate answer lies in the maxim ‘peace is found where justice exists.’

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