Liberia

The Capitol Building, the heart of Liberia's legislative activities, became a hotspot for political unrest recently. This past Thursday, a faction within the Lower House attempted to unseat Speaker Fonati Koffa. However, their scheme unraveled when Koffa's loyal supporters, despite his absence abroad, intervened spectacularly, closing the Chamber doors and halting the coup attempt. Reportedly, those lawmakers who endorsed the resolution to oust the Speaker believed they were promised a hefty payday of U.S. $25,000 each.…

Bishop Samuel J. Quire, the prominent leader of the United Methodist Church (UMC) in Liberia, has recently expressed deep concerns regarding reports of several congregations pondering a split from the denomination. Their contemplation of such a move stems from the heated discussions surrounding the acceptance of same-sex marriage within the church. Quire firmly emphasized that no congregation under the Methodist banner is entitled to sever ties, highlighting that those contemplating such a decision are straying from the…

President Joseph Boakai has officially accepted the resignation of Commerce Minister Amin Modad. This decision came in the wake of significant public backlash regarding Modad's acquisition of a vehicle that surpassed the established price ceiling. "His actions demonstrate a serious lapse in judgment and an insensitivity to the prevailing economic circumstances in our nation," Boakai remarked, emphasizing the need for accountability in leadership. The former Minister of Commerce defended his choice, explaining that the…

Prolonged bouts of torrential rain in Monrovia have led to devastating floods throughout the city, forcing tens of thousands from their homes, as reported by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA). Monrovia's vulnerability to flooding stems from several issues, including dense population, an inadequate sewage system, and a lack of stringent construction regulations. According to Ansu Dulleh, the Executive Director of the NDMA, the extent of the flooding is "something we have never seen before." This calamity has…

Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow has reached out, seeking the support of ex-President George M. Weah in the pursuit of a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. In a formal letter, Beysolow emphasized Weah's noteworthy "global standing as a peace ambassador" and highlighted the solid groundwork his administration laid on this matter, deeming it "essential for our campaign." The initiative is poised to garner backing from other influential figures in Liberia, including former President Ellen Johnson…

A former Liberian rebel commander, known as "General Butt Naked" and notorious for sacrificing children and engaging in battle in the nude, is now trying to find redemption by rescuing former child soldiers from drugs. One of the most feared figures to emerge from the West African country's civil war, Joshua Blahyi, sacrificed and cannibalized children. He would also fight naked in the belief that this permeated him with spiritual power and earned him the moniker "General Butt Naked." Massacres,…

About fifteen of them submitted a text "ready for use" on Thursday, June 24, which could serve as a model for a team. This is a lobbying operation because 18 years after the end of the last civil war, a number of the most infamous warlords and suspected criminals have not yet been brought to justice. The text of the law was…

A Swiss court on Friday sentenced a West African rebel to 20 years in prison for rape, murder and cannibalism, which he committed during Liberia's civil war. The case was also Switzerland's first war crimes tribunal in a civil court. It involved 46-year-old Alieu Kosiah who went under the nom de guerre "bluff boy" in the rebel faction United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO) who fought against former President Charles Taylor's army in the 1990s. Kosiah faced 25 charges including one…

Former Liberian rebel leader Alieu Kosiah was convicted on Friday of war crimes in Liberia. Leverdict was handed down in Switzerland before the Federal Criminal Court. In the early 1990s, when Liberia was on fire, Alieu Kosiah commanded a militia in the armed movement Ulimo against Charles Taylor's rebels. He moved to…

Prince Johnson, the previous warlord in Liberia and who turned senator in 2006, was appointed chairman of the Senate Protection Committee on Tuesday, Could 18. A gathering that prompted US diplomacy to react the following day, whereas the talk on the institution of a particular court docket to evaluate the crimes dedicated in the course of the civil struggle is frequently reactivated.…