—As Push for War Crimes Court establishment Suffers Setback
IPNEWS: In less than 72 hours following a report of allegation that Liberia’s Pro-tempore’ Senator Nyonblee-Karnga-Lawrence held a meeting with U.S. Republican Congressman Chris Smith, and former International Court Persecutor, Allen White, the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper, can confirmed that there was no meeting held between U.S. Congressman Chris Smith, and Allen White, as alleged.
On Monday, the Daily Observer Newspaper reported an allegation surfacing that Senator Karnga-Lawrence recently met with Dr. Alan W. White, a figure associated with international justice operations and allegedly received financial incentives to push for the bill’s introduction.
According to Daily Observer Newspaper, the reports suggest that White had closed-door meetings with several Liberian officials and political actors, prompting concerns about external influence and ulterior motives behind the legislative initiative.
On the contrary, sources in Washington, have informed the Independent Probe Newspaper that it has become increasingly evident that the ‘U.S. Congress will not lend its support to the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia as long as certain non-governmental organizations (NGOs) remain directly involved in shaping, influencing, or driving the process’.
According to several sources not wanting their names mentioned, the credibility of any justice mechanism depends fundamentally on the integrity and impartiality of those who participate in it. Unfortunately, serious concerns have emerged regarding the conduct of several organizations that claim to be pursuing justice for Liberia’s war victims — namely, Hassan Bility’s Global Justice and Research Project (GJRP), Alain Werner’s Civitas Maxima, and the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) based in California.
There is substantial evidence and growing testimony suggesting that these organizations have engaged in unethical and potentially criminal practices, including the recruitment, coaching, and payment of witnesses to provide false or fabricated testimony in war crimes cases.
These activities not only compromise the pursuit of genuine justice but also risk turning the process into a politically motivated campaign manipulated for personal, financial, or institutional gain.
“From Washington’s perspective, such misconduct directly undermines the trust and confidence necessary for Congressional endorsement or funding of any future tribunal or hybrid court for Liberia. Members of Congress and U.S. policymakers are acutely aware that the misuse of U.S. taxpayer dollars and European donor funds to support false prosecutions would constitute a grave violation of international standards of due process and accountability.
Until these issues are fully investigated, and until the Liberian justice process is separated from the influence of compromised NGOs, the United States will remain reluctant to support or recognize any War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia. A credible path forward must involve transparency, independence, and adherence to the rule of law — free from the manipulation of organizations that have demonstrated a pattern of coercion, fabrication, and exploitation in the name of justice.
The Liberian people deserve a justice mechanism rooted in truth, integrity, and national reconciliation — not one tainted by corruption, foreign manipulation, or political agendas disguised as human rights advocacy. “ The source hinted.
It may be recalled, April 2024, both the House and Senate of the Liberia Legislature passed a joint resolution in April 2024 calling for its establishment, the actual legislation is still in progress and subject to political debate.
The Joint Resolution Passed (April 2024), directed the Executive Branch to develop the necessary legal framework. Immediately after the joint resolution, President Joseph Boakai signed an executive order in May 2024 to create the Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court (OEWECC), tasked with designing the court’s structure and roadmap.
In late October 2025, some senators introduced their own bills for a purely domestic court, which critics argue contradicts the spirit of the 2024 joint resolution that envisaged an internationally-backed hybrid court.
This new development has led to concerns about political motives and the potential for a compromised system.
The current process involves the relevant Senate committees reviewing the proposed bills and the OEWECC continuing to develop a comprehensive roadmap, with human rights groups urging swift and decisive action to ensure a credible and effective court is established.
In essence, while there has been major legislative movement after years of inertia, a final, agreed-upon bill has not yet been enacted into law
