Liberia’s president has tendered a long-awaited apology to victims of the country’s brutal civil wars, which claimed around 250,000 lives between 1989 and 2003. Speaking at a state ceremony, he acknowledged the nation’s failure to protect its people, saying, “We are sorry… The State could have done more.” The gesture marks a key moment in Liberia’s path toward reconciliation. However, while other countries have prosecuted war crimes linked to the conflict, Liberia has yet to hold trials on its own soil. That may soon change: in 2024, the government approved plans to establish a war crimes tribunal, though funding—estimated at $100 million—remains a major obstacle to implementation. International observers have praised the move as a step toward justice.
africanews
