IPNews-Monrovia:It appears that a dream come true for Millions of Liberians who suffered at the hands of blood thirsty warlords during the Liberia fifteen years civil crisis is now taking shape.
On yesterday President George Manneh Weah met with the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), His Honor Judge Eboe-Osuji on the margins of the 55th Ordinary Summit of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.
During the hour long meeting Judge Eboe-Osuji expressed appreciation to President Weah for affording him the opportunity him in a bid to discuss the role of the ICC in promoting peace and security in the world.
He also briefed the President on the role of the ICC in promoting better relations with ECOWAS Member States about the work of the ICC.
His Honor Eboe-Odiji commended President Weah for being one of the progressive, young world leaders. He praised him for his current development initiatives. He said “there is no magic wand and quick fixes in nation building.”
He extended an invitation to President Weah to visit the Court at his earliest convenience.
President Weah thanked Judge Eboe-Osuji for the courtesy visit. He said Liberia was now a UN success story in preserving peace and democracy.
He briefed the Judge about his past role as a UN Peace Ambassador in promoting peace and preventing impunity in Liberia. He said his administration would abide by all protocols to which Liberia has acceded.
The President also explained his administration’s efforts in promoting restorative justice through the Palava Hut Model where the aggrieved and perpetrators can dialogue to seek peace and justice. He mentioned the importance of electoral reform as practiced in advanced democracies like the United States. He also praised the approach of the ICC in reaching out to world leaders because “people should not be afraid of the ICC”. President Weah accepted the invitation to visit the court.
Meanwhile President George Manneh Weah, departed the Country on yesterday, Friday, June 28, 2019 for Abuja, Nigeria to attend the 55th Ordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Governments.
The Liberian leader will join other leaders of ECOWAS for the two-day historic summit scheduled for June 29 to 30, 2019.
The ECOWAS heads of state are expected to deliberate on pressing social, economic and political issues confronting the West African Sub-region.
Political turmoil in Guinea Bissau and other parts of the sub-region and the enhancement and liberalization of trade and commerce amongst countries, including opening regional flights and the ECOWAS single currency regime, are expected to feature prominently in discussions at the summit.
This year’s summit of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Governments is the second to be attended by President Weah since his ascendancy in 2018.
While the President is away, the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Chief of office Staff, Hon. Nathaniel Farlo McGill, will act as chair of the Cabinet in close consultation with the Vice President and via telephone contacts with the President.
The Liberian President is expected to return to the country early next week.
5 thoughts on “ICC On Warlords Back; Meets Pres. Weah on the Margins of the ECOWAS Sumit”
Realistically and legally, ICC cannot investigate any war related crimes in Liberia as far as the two Liberian Civil Wars are concerned for the following reasons : 1) The mandate of the ICC begins July 1, 2002. That means, if the ICC were to even investigate any war related crimes in Liberia, such crimes would have to have been committed after July 1, 2002. Even at that, the second reason would also rule out the ICC. This is that reason:
2) Liberia, unfortunately, ratified the Rome Statue on September 20, 2004. This means, the ICC can only consider investigating war related crimes in Liberia beginning September 20, 2004. Therefore, the ICC, as it is now, does not have any jurisdictional power to investigate any war related crimes of the two Liberian Civil Wars. Too sad, isn’t it?
You must be a fucking Mad man and very ignorance
Granted, given that President Weah has agreed to implement all Protocols signed by Liberia comes as a COMMITMENT to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which highlights measures to address past human rights violation as a state party to the UN CONVENTION. TRC Report layout those violations for warlords to be brought to Justice for past crimes in Liberia.
So Mr Ability, which international judicial system can help victims in Liberia for the period 1979 – 2003? As I read your post, a feeling of loss was felt for ourselves. But I wish to defer with you for not mentioning the Geneva Conventions relative to non international conflict and the remedial procedures to protect victims.
The issue of war crime court for Liberia appears to be a complicated one as stated by Mr. Hassan Bility. More than this, the TRC’s report has some flaws that make its recommendations’ implementation a bit difficult. For example, the exemption from prosecution of some notorious killers like Joshua Blayee, alias “General But Naked” and others, on grounds that they admitted remorse for the killings of thousands of Liberians in cold blood, without the judicial process taking its course, compromises the impartiality of the TRC. Hence, lies its predicament!