IPSNEWS – Monrovia: “Notorious warlord” Senator Prince Y. Johnson of Nimba County has been forced to resign as head of the Liberian Senate’s Chair on National Security, Defense, Intelligence and Veteran Affairs.
Following his ascension to the post on May 18, 2021, the US Embassy near Monrovia issued a statement the next day taking issue with the Senate for allowing him to take such position.
“The U.S. Embassy strongly condemns the election yesterday of notorious warlord Prince Y. Johnson as Chair of the Liberian Senate Committee on Defense and Intelligence. Senator Johnson’s gross human rights violations during Liberia’s civil wars are well-documented; his continued efforts to protect himself from accountability, enrich his own coffers and sow division are also well known,” the US Embassy said in its statement.
It’s not clear when he actually resigned, but the Liberian Senate, on Tuesday, July 6, officially broke the news on its official Facebook page.
There are reports that following the US Embassy’s condemnation of the Senate, the leadership told the Nimba County “strongman” to relinquish the post willingly but was adamant in his post.
The US Embassy also question the judgement of the Liberian Senate for making Sen. Johnson to ascend. “That the Liberian Senate would see fit to elevate him to a leadership role – particularly in the area in which he has done this country the most harm — creates doubts as to the seriousness of the Senate as a steward of Liberia’s defense and security. The U.S. government is proud of our longstanding partnership with the Ministry of National Defense and Armed Forces of Liberia which will continue — but we can have no relationship with Senator Johnson.”
Following the release of the Embassy’s statement, the former Independent National Patriotic Front Liberia (INPFL) rebel leader now senator of Nimba County described the Embassy’s press statement as “individual opinion” expressed and that it did not represent the views and decision of the American government.
However, officially speaking on the matter today, July 6, Sen. Johnson in his letter dated Tuesday, June 6, indicated that over the past weeks, his residences, both in Monrovia and Nimba have been inundated by high profile visits paid to him by the Chiefs of Nimba and other stakeholders comprising a broad spectrum of the people who have twice elected him to represent them at the Legislature. He added, “They have never questioned my suitability and capacity to continue to serve them. My gratitude to them is immeasurable.”
“My people and Executives of my Party have advised me to resign my role in the Senate as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defense, Intelligence and Veteran Affairs to focus on my reelection and that of the President. After given much pondering to the matter and in consultation with my family, I have decided to honor their request,” he stated.
“I therefore resign my post as Chairman on Defense, Intelligence and Veteran Affairs of the Liberian Senate effectively today.”
Accordingly, Senator Johnson acknowledged that Liberia’s traditional partner for more than a century, has resolved not to support the Committee as long as he is Chairman.
He stressed that Liberia is bigger than anyone person and the army which, is his Alma mater needs support at this critical time of the country’s recovery, noting, “I will never want to stand in the way of support to our army in particular and Liberia in general.”
The Nimba County Senator further asserted that, he equally cannot afford to put the Honorable Liberian Senate at odds with the United States of America.
“We respect the US and will do everything to work with them in ways that improve relations and foster national development.
He recounted how the Senate elected him on many occasions to represent it at the ECOWAS Parliament where he was privileged to serve the post of Deputy Speaker at the Regional body and Chairman of Defense, Intelligence and Veteran Affairs.
In closing, the Nimba County Lawmaker commended the Pro-Tempore and his colleagues and members of the Committee for the support and time of service and promised to always give his advice when ever needed.
The communication was endorsed through a motion proffered by Maryland County Senator Gble-bo Brown.
At the same time, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Senator Albert T. Chie has appointed Lofa County Senator Stephen J. Zargo to act as Chair of the Defense, Security, Intelligence and Veterans Affairs Committee pending the election of the Chairman by Plenary.
While Nimba County Senator Jeremiah Koung serves as Co-Chair on the Defense, Security, Intelligence and Veterans Committee while outgoing Chairman on the Senate Defense Committee, Senator Prince Johnson has also been appointed to the Ways, Means, Finance and Budget Committee as a member.
Johnson and TRC
Sen. Johnson, who is an indictee of Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has always boasted that there would be no War and Economic Crimes Court establish in Liberia.
He has boasted that the people of Nimba will protect him should anyone tries to arrest him. “My people believe I am a hero while others think I am a devil,” he said some time ago relating to his support in Nimba. “When they were being killed, I stood for them.” Johnson tops the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report’s “Most Notorious Perpetrators list” and is widely expected to be the first person to face a war crimes court for his role in Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia and later, as the head of his breakaway INPFL.
“Go grab Prince Johnson, you won’t be able to even come close,” Johnson told his congregation in his church weeks ago. “You won’t even catch me because the resistance you will receive from young guys will be maximum, uncontrollable and ungovernable.” He had vowed to mobilize young men from Nimba to take up arms and join him in the forests to resist the court.
Senator Johnson, now in his late 50s, father of over 12 children, is a son of a bush hunter in Nimba County. He first resorted to arms as a member of the failed 1985 General Thomas Quiwonkpa invasion, which was intended to topple the Doe regime. Quiwonkpa, a son of Nimba, was arrested and butchered when the uprising failed. Johnson fled into exile.
This infuriated former President Samuel K. Doe, who sent members of the army to Nimba. Nimbaians, including women and children, were slaughtered and that massacre is known today as the “Nimba Raid.”
Johnson and Taylor launched Liberia’s civil war on December 24, 1989 and crossed over into Nimba, through Butuo on the border with Côte d’Ivoire. Johnson splintered from Taylor soon after and formed his own rebel group, the INPFL. When, in 1990, Johnson captured, tortured and killed Doe, Nimbaians, remembering the Nimba Raid, hailed him as a hero and savior.
According to the TRC, the INPFL can be held liable for just two percent of the total violations —2,588 —tallied in its final report.
Though this figure is low compared with Taylor’s NPFL with 41 percent (63,843 violations), INPFL leader Prince Yormie Johnson is, however, documented as having the highest number of violations ever recorded for individual perpetrators during the whole civil war, which lasted 15 years. Johnson earned this record in comparatively short spell (1990 to 1993) in the civil war.
In addition to killing Doe, the TRC documented other crimes committed by Johnson’s INPFL: “Two trucks filled with native Krahns and Mandingoes were captured from ECOMOG by the INPFL and apparently killed since they were never accounted for,” the report reads.
Among Senator Johnson’s violations, according to the TRC, are killing, extortion, massacre, destruction of properties, force recruitment, etc.
