-SONYAH
The Executive Director of the Liberia Massacre Survivors Association (LIMASA), Mr. Peterson K. Sonyah, said he is confident Liberia’s long-awaited War and Economic Crimes Court will eventually become a reality, describing the ongoing efforts as a significant source of hope for thousands of victims and survivors of the Country’s civil conflicts.
Mr. Sonyah told the Liberian Investigator recently in Monrovia that the continued campaign for justice and accountability have waited for decades to hold accountable those responsible for serious atrocities during Liberia’s years of conflict.
Sonyah said the establishment of the court remains essential to addressing the culture of impunity, providing justice for victims and promoting genuine national reconciliation.
Himself a survivor of the 1990 Lutheran Church massacre, Sonyah he has been one of the leading voices advocating for accountability.
He lost seven members of his family during the massacre, including his father, and has consistently maintained that survivors deserve to see justice during their lifetime.
The LIMASA Executive Director said recent developments surrounding the proposed court have strengthened the confidence of victims and survivors.
Liberia’s war crimes court process has entered an important stage, with legislative proposals under consideration and efforts underway to harmonize the legal framework for establishing the court.
President Joseph Boakai’s administration has also submitted draft legislation, while the Senate Judiciary Committee has announced plans for consultations on the proposed statute.
Mr. Sonyah believes that sustained cooperation among the Executive, Legislature, civil society organizations, international partners and victims’ groups can move the process from promise to reality.
He emphasized that the voices of massacre survivors and affected communities must remain central to the establishment of the court.
“For us, this is about justice, dignity and ensuring that the painful experiences of victims are not forgotten,” Mr. Sonyah has consistently argued through LIMASA’s advocacy for accountability and transitional justice.
LIMASA has remained active in documenting massacre sites, honoring victims and advocating for the establishment of a credible justice mechanism.
The association has also carried out commemorative activities at several massacre sites and recently continued its documentation of previously unrecorded sites across several counties.
The push for the court comes as international human rights organizations and Liberia’s development partners continue to call for decisive action.
A recent assessment of the process stressed that political momentum must now be translated into legislation, adequate resources and an operational court, with meaningful participation by victims and survivors.
For Mr. Sonyah and other members of the Liberia Massacre Survivors Association, the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court would represent more than a legal achievement. It would be a historic step toward recognizing the suffering of victims, confronting the legacy of Liberia’s violent past and strengthening the foundation for lasting peace and reconciliation.
As survivors continue to wait, Mr. Sonyah remains confident that with sustained political will and public support, Liberia can finally establish the court and deliver long-awaited justice to the thousands of people whose lives were permanently affected by the country’s civil wars.
The message from Liberia’s survivors remains clear: justice delayed must not become justice denied.
Mr. Sonyah has spoken to the media about the institution’s 17th anniversary and the continuing campaign for the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia.
