Gbonyea Town, Sanoyea District, Bong County, October 20, 2025: – Louis Kuukpen, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Liberia, has expressed hope that the establishment of memorials across the country will serve as a source of healing and solace for the families of civil war victims.
Speaking at the official dedication of the Gbonyea Town Memorial in Bong County, Kuukpen emphasized that these sites are not only meant to honor and humanize those who perished during Liberia’s 14-year civil conflict, but also to foster community ownership, strengthen social cohesion, and promote peace and reconciliation.
“In a bid to promote closure, healing, peacebuilding, and reconciliation, the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR), with support from UNDP, has constructed over nine memorials at massacre and mass grave sites across the country,” Kuukpen said.
He noted that UNDP directly funded five of these memorials, with a combined construction cost exceeding US$165,000.
“These memorials are intended to humanize and honor the victims — those who perished under harrowing conditions and were buried in improvised graves during the war,” he added.
Kuukpen highlighted that the initiative aligns with Recommendation 17.0 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which calls for reparations and memorialization.
“Let us be reminded that these memorials serve not only as sites of remembrance but also as symbols of the nation’s collective rejection of violence as a means of resolving conflict,” he stated.
He further suggested that, if properly managed, the memorials could become hubs for local tourism, generating economic and cultural benefits for surrounding communities.
“I encourage the INCHR to work with local authorities and beneficiary communities to establish proper mechanisms for managing and maintaining these facilities. It would also be beneficial to train selected community members as storytellers to guide visitors and share the history of what occurred during the war,” he said. Reflecting on recent efforts, Kuukpen noted that in the past three months, UNDP has dedicated memorials in Behn Town (Grand Bassa County), Bloe Town (Rivercess County), Kpoyomai (Lofa County), and Bopolu City (Gbarpolu County). The dedication in Gbonyea Town marks the fifth and final memorial directly funded by UNDP.
“Today, we are here to do the same for Gbonyea Town and its surrounding communities. In every location we’ve visited, we’ve heard disturbing and emotional stories of how people — including women and children — were brutally murdered, raped, or maimed. I believe Gbonyea shares a similar painful history,” he said.
He recalled that on December 10, 1994, more than 500 people, mostly children, were killed in Gbonyea — many by brutal means. “We are here today not just to dedicate this memorial, but to honor the victims and their families,” Kuukpen added.
He cited estimates from the Center for Justice and Accountability, which suggest that approximately 250,000 people lost their lives during Liberia’s civil wars between 1989 and 2003.
Kuukpen reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to supporting national reconciliation efforts, including assisting the INCHR in recruiting and training community members for memorial management.
The Gbonyea Memorial serves as a sacred space for residents to honor the victims of Liberia’s civil conflict, seek healing, and promote genuine reconciliation and peacebuilding. It stands as a powerful symbol rejecting violence as a means of resolving disputes.
As part of the commemorative activities, stakeholders visited a nearby rock — an emotionally significant site where, according to community accounts, children were brutally killed by fighters during the war.
This visit served as a solemn reminder of the atrocities committed and reinforced the importance of memorialization in preserving history and fostering national healing.
The dedicatory ceremony was attended by a diverse group of stakeholders, including community leaders, religious figures, women and youth representatives, civil society organizations, local government officials, members of the Memorial Committee, Commissioners of the INCHR, and representatives from the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court Secretariat, the Transitional Justice Group, and OHCHR Liberia, among others.
These memorials serve not only as places of remembrance but also as enduring reminders of the devastating impact of violent conflict. They are intended to foster a collective commitment to peace and resilience, and to discourage the use of violence in addressing political, social, or other differences.
Cllr. Frederick L. M. Gbemie, Director for Operations of the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC), also spoke at the ceremony, announcing that the court will be established and operationalized in November 2027.
“The War and Economic Crimes Court, which we are working tirelessly to establish, is a direct response to the pain etched into places like Gbonyea and other affected communities in Liberia,” Cllr. Gbemie stated.
He described the Gbonyea Massacre Memorial as both a remembrance of the victims and a symbol of accountability.
“The memorial acknowledges the harm—the Court seeks accountability for it. The memorial preserves memory—the Court ensures that memory leads to justice. The memorial invites healing—the Court provides the legal path toward reconciliation,” he said.
Cllr. Gbemie stressed that the voices of affected communities must guide the establishment and operation of the court.
“We cannot build a credible justice mechanism without first listening to the cries of the communities most affected. Gbonyea is not just a location—it is a testimony. And this testimony must inform the work of the Court,” he noted.
He emphasized that the creation of the War and Economic Crimes Court is a national obligation, not a favor to the international community.
“It is a promise to the mothers who buried their children, to the youth who grew up in silence, and to the elders who still carry the weight of unanswered questions,” he said.
Calling the memorial “a call to action,” Cllr. Gbemie reaffirmed: “That is why the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) will be established and operationalized in November 2027. To the people of Gbonyea, to the survivors, and to the families of the fallen: we see you. We hear you. And we stand with you.”
He urged residents to view the memorial site as a place of reflection and resilience, reminding all
Liberians that the nation’s future must be built on truth and justice.
“As we move forward in establishing the War and Economic Crimes Court, let this monument guide our steps and strengthen our resolve,” he said.
Representing the Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia, Cllr. Gbemie, on behalf of Executive Director Dr. Cllr. Jallah A. Barbu, reaffirmed the Office’s commitment to ensuring justice and national healing.
“Memorialization is justice in motion—it is the bridge between memory and accountability. It is the foundation upon which we build a future rooted in truth, dignity, and the rule of law,” he concluded.
INCHR Chairperson Cllr. T. Dempster Brown also addressed the gathering, reminding attendees that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) produced 203 recommendations, including reparations, reconciliation, public hearings, and criminal accountability for those who committed crimes against the state and international law.
“The Commission made it clear: those who committed crimes must be held to account,” Cllr. Brown said.
He praised President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s commitment to justice, citing his advocacy for the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court as central to achieving lasting peace.
“You can’t talk about peace when there is no justice. There must be justice before peace,” he said.
He urged Parliament to pass the necessary legislation to establish the court, after which judges and prosecutors will be appointed.
“When that war crimes court is established, we will ensure that those who killed our brothers, sisters, children, mothers, and fathers do not escape accountability,” Cllr. Brown concluded.
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