Gov't Refutes Senator Nimely’s Claim That “War, Economic Crimes Court Is Recipe For Chaos”

By E. Chiedi Nyenmoh

The Government of Liberia has refuted claims made by Grand Gedeh County Senator, Thomas Yaya Nimely that the establishment of the “War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) is a recipe for chaos” and will derail the peace of the country.

“The establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court is a breach of the spirit and intent of the Accra comprehensive peace accord", the Grand Gedeh Senator stated.

Speaking at the Ministry Of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) regular press briefing on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 in Monrovia, Deputy Minister Daniel O. Sando registered the Government of Liberia’s disagreement with the claim made by the Grand Gedeh Senator, citing “The Government of Liberia rejects in the strongest term that the idea to pursue the establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court will derail the peace or destabilize the country,”

Minister Sando pointed out that there was no choice for Liberia between the pursuits of criminal prosecution, the payment of reparations or the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

According to him, the measures were all born out of the comprehensive peace accord and there was no choice of " If or either".

He stated that it has taken all these years to implement the mandate of the peace accord, stressing that the Government of Liberia is committed to implementing all of them.

“If previous administrations ignored the War and Economic Crimes Court yesterday, there is no confirmation that they did so because accountability measures will derail the peace", Sando stated.

The MICAT Official noted that the executive order number 131 establishing the Office of War and Economic Crimes Court is a measure by the President for the People of Liberia to give them what they want stating that Liberia wants justice, peace and reconciliation.

It can be recalled that Senator Thomas Yaya Nimely recently told a gathering of Liberians at the peace symposium commemorating the 21^st anniversary of the Accra Peace Accord that the establishment of war and economic crimes courts is a recipe for chaos.

He added that the War and Economic Crimes Court will destabilize the country and upend the peace.