Three young men die while sleeping in a sealed room. Experts warn they were likely killed by fumes from fresh paint.

The deportation of a former rebel commander to Liberia from the united states sparks safety fears among war crimes witnesses

As more people go online, fraud is surging —authorities say stopping it isn’t easy and everyone is at risk

Theres a new drug promising a breakthrough malaria treatment for infants but Liberians might wait years. 

Welcome to our program looking at the state of Liberian democracy. It’s a collaboration with Frontpage Africa with reporting from journalists in the New Narratives program. I’m Tetee Gebro.

Support the show

Funding for this podcast comes from the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. See more of our collaborations with media in West Africa at www.newnarratives.org

As plans for Liberia’s war and economic crimes court and national anti-corruption court get underway, we’re running a series of special interviews with experts and stakeholders about how the courts will work.

In this interview, I speak with Michelle Reyes Milk, senior counsel in the International Justice Program at Human Rights Watch and the new point person for Liberia. We spoke on the sidelines of a justice conference in Monrovia.

Michelle has extensive experience in international criminal justice, including in her home continent of South America. She served as regional coordinator for the Americas at the Coalition for the International Criminal Court. 

Support the show

Funding for this podcast comes from the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. See more of our collaborations with media in West Africa at www.newnarratives.org

Welcome to this special edition of Democracy in Focus, a collaboration between New Narratives, Okay FM and Front Page Africa. I’m Anthony Stephens. 

As plans for Liberia’s war and economic crimes court get underway, we’re running a series of special interviews with experts and stakeholders about how the courts will work.

In this interview, I speak with Elise Keppler, who held a range of senior positions at Human Rights Watch, focusing on international criminal justice, and accountability for atrocity crimes, 

When she first started at Human Rights Watch Liberia’s civil war was still raging. She was the organization’s Liberia focal point for 20 years. 

She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Global Justice Center, a New York-based advocacy organization that advances accountability for serious international crimes, with a particular emphasis on gender justice. Our interview was held on the margins of a recent justice conference in Monrovia 

Support the show

Funding for this podcast comes from the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. See more of our collaborations with media in West Africa at www.newnarratives.org

Welcome to this special edition of Democracy in Focus, a collaboration between New Narratives, Okay FM and Front Page Africa. I’m Anthony Stephens.

As planning for Liberia’s war and economic crimes court get underway, we’re running a series of special interviews with experts and stakeholders about how the courts will work.

In this interview, I speak with Binta Mansaray, Registrar of the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone, 

She served as Registrar during the court’s prosecution of those bearing the greatest responsibility for atrocities committed during Sierra Leone’s civil war. 13 people were indicted and nine were ultimately convicted — including Liberia’s former president, Charles Taylor.

We spoke on the margins of an international justice conference in Monrovia. 

Support the show

Funding for this podcast comes from the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. See more of our collaborations with media in West Africa at www.newnarratives.org

Coming up in this episode. 

Doctors warn that the rampant misuse of medications like antibiotics is fueling the rise of deadly superbugs —that are killing thousands and leaving patients defenseless.

As Liberia marks sixteen days of activism against gender violence, a mother of six is killed by her husband. Experts say it exposes deep gaps in protection for rural women. 

And as justice advocates push to defeat a surprise bill that would block war crimes from being tried in Liberia’s proposed court, we speak with former international criminal court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda on why hybrid courts matter.

Welcome to our program looking at the state of Liberian democracy. 

Support the show

Funding for this podcast comes from the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. See more of our collaborations with media in West Africa at www.newnarratives.org

Coming up in this episode. 

At this year’s cop climate change summit, global powers move forward with green energy expansion despite U.S. withdrawal. But vulnerable nations like our own rage as adaptation funds fall short. A survey finds Liberians are among the world’s biggest worriers as experts link rising stress to chronic diseases, especially in women. Justice advocates lobby to kill a surprise bill that would stop war crimes from being tried in Liberia’s war crimes court. And cost and lack of awareness leave millions in Liberia with poor vision, limiting children’s education and putting lives at risk

Welcome to our program looking at the state of Liberian democracy. It’s a collaboration with Frontpage Africa with reporting from journalists in the New Narratives program. 

Support the show

Funding for this podcast comes from the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. See more of our collaborations with media in West Africa at www.newnarratives.org

As plans for Liberia’s war and economic crimes court and national anti-corruption court get underway, we’re running a series of special interviews with Liberian and international experts and stakeholders about how the courts will work.

In this interview, Anthony Stephens speaks with Fatou Bom Bensouda, a former prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, on the sidelines of the African Investigative Journalism Conference in Johannesburg this month. A Gambian and the only woman to date to hold the role, Bensouda led the Court’s prosecutorial team from 2012-2021. 

Some notable prosecutions took place under her watch included former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo; Kenya’s former president Uhuru Kenyatta; and William Ruto, now Kenya’s sitting president, who at the time had just been elected deputy to Kenyatta. Jean-Pierre Bemba, the former vice president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was also prosecuted under her watch. 

Support the show

Funding for this podcast comes from the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. See more of our collaborations with media in West Africa at www.newnarratives.org

COMING UP IN THIS EPISODE. 

AS LIBERIA’S DRUG CRISIS WORSENS, UNLICENSED REHABILITATION CENTERS ARE PROFITING FROM FAMILIES’ MISERY. EXPERTS WANT THEM CLOSED. 

AS A BILL THAT WOULD LEGALIZE ABORTION IS AGAIN DEBATED IN THE SENATE, MEDICINES THAT END PREGNANCIES ARE QUIETLY SAVING LIVES.

WITH NO INFORMATION ABOUT MARKET PRICES, RURAL FARMERS SAY MIDDLEMEN ARE EXPLOITING THEM AND PAYING TOO LITTLE FOR THEIR PRODUCE.

AND LEADING LIBERIAN JUSTICE ADVOCATES CONDEMN THE DECISION TO PRIORITIZE THE ANTI-CORRUPTION COURT OVER THE WAR CRIMES COURT.

WELCOME TO OUR PROGRAM LOOKING AT THE STATE OF LIBERIAN DEMOCRACY. 

Support the show

Funding for this podcast comes from the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. See more of our collaborations with media in West Africa at www.newnarratives.org

In this interview, I speak with Lofa County Senator Joseph Jallah — who along with Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence - has introduced two bills to establish Liberia’s war and economic crimes courts.  

The bills have surprised the court’s proponents because they have seemingly come out of nowhere and they have some controversial elements that contradict a bill submitted to the legislature in 2021 by Liberian Bar Association. That bill had buy-in from most of the court’s advocates and was seen to be a starting point for new bills that must go to the legislature soon to trigger the start of the court. Critics say Jallah’s bills could slow down or undermine years of advocacy to establish the courts. 

Support the show

Funding for this podcast comes from the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. See more of our collaborations with media in West Africa at www.newnarratives.org

Coming up in this episode. 

The country’s drug crisis takes center stage. Citizens march on the capitol demanding action as vigilantes destroy drug dens.

The massive cuts to us aid being felt across economy. From street sellers to medium sized businesses the loss of business is hurting. 

After years of delay a seawall meant to save thousands of homes from being swallowed by the sea in West Point is finally set to begin. 

As the Office of War and Economic Crimes Court begins an outreach campaign one expert says security needs to be taken seriously. 

Welcome to our program looking at the state of Liberian democracy. It’s a collaboration with FrontPage Africa with reporting from journalists in the new narratives program. 

Support the show

Funding for this podcast comes from the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. See more of our collaborations with media in West Africa at www.newnarratives.org