Liberian president issues official apology to civil war victims
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Liberians gather for a national ceremony as the president formally apologizes for civil war atrocities, marking a step toward justice and reconciliation.
Liberian President Issues Historic Apology to Civil War Victims
Ceremony marks official recognition of wartime atrocities as plans for war crimes tribunal move forward
Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia’s President has issued a formal state apology to victims of the country’s brutal civil wars, acknowledging the government’s failures during a solemn national ceremony held on Saturday.
“To every victim of our civil wars, to every broken family, to every shattered dream, we say: we are sorry. The State could have done more,” the president declared.
The emotional address comes as the West African nation continues its slow march toward justice and reconciliation, nearly two decades after the end of its second civil war.
Two Civil Wars, 250,000 Lives Lost
Liberia endured two devastating civil wars between 1989 and 2003, leaving an estimated 250,000 people dead. Thousands more suffered horrific abuses — including rape, massacres, mutilation, and the forced recruitment of child soldiers.
While foreign courts in Switzerland, France, Sweden, and the United States have prosecuted some war crimes linked to Liberia, no trials have yet taken place on Liberian soil.
Long-Awaited Justice
In a landmark development last year, the Liberian government officially endorsed a parliamentary vote to establish a war crimes tribunal — a move hailed by human rights groups and the international community. The proposed cost of setting up the court is estimated at $100 million, posing a major financial hurdle.
Despite this, the decision has garnered widespread support, including from the United Nations and various international partners, who have commended Liberia’s new commitment to accountability.
The president’s apology is seen as a vital first step toward national healing, though activists say true justice requires prosecution of those responsible for past atrocities.
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