Liberia: Democracy in Focus

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

As plans for Liberia’s War and Economic Crimes Court and National Anti-Corruption Court move forward, we’re bringing you a series of special interviews with experts and stakeholders about how the courts will work.

In this edition, I speak with Patmillia Doe Paivey, a commissioner at the Independent National Commission on Human Rights, Liberia’s independent human rights watchdog. 

The commission is leading a new public fund to support the medical and other needs of survivors of the civil wars.

The initiative grew out of a proposal by veteran human rights lawyer, Tiawan Gongloe who called on all employed Liberians at home and abroad to contribute at least one U.S. dollar annually. Unemployed people were asked to contribute 100 Liberian dollars. The government would match every U.S. dollar raised with five dollars.

The proposal quickly gained support with head of the office of the War and Economic Crimes Court Jallah Barbu publicly donating the first dollar at an event in July.

Paivey has taken charge of the fund which will be a first of its kind. it acknowledges that more than 23 years after the civil wars ended and with more survivors dying, no reparations have been made provided. 

Support the show

Support for this podcast came from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union. (Until September 2026, the program was supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and American Jewish World Service.)

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

As plans for Liberia’s War and Economic Crimes Court and National Anti-Corruption Court move forward, we’re bringing you a series of special interviews with Liberian and international experts and stakeholders about how the courts will work.

In this interview, I speak with director of Liberia’s Witness Protection Agency, Teklo Maxwell Grigsby. Grigsby head the government institution responsible for protecting witnesses, victims and whistleblowers from threats, intimidation, retaliation and political coercion.

In recent months, Grigsby has also been working with transitional justice experts and other stakeholders to help ensure that the agency is prepared to protect victims and witnesses who may testify before Liberia’s proposed War and Economic Crimes Court and National Anti-Corruption Court.

He has also been leading advocacy for stronger incentives and increased rewards for whistleblowers.

Support the show

Support for this podcast came from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union. (Until September 2026, the program was supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and American Jewish World Service.)

Welcome to this special edition of Democracy in Focus, a collaboration between New Narratives and FrontPage Africa. 

As plans for Liberia’s War and Economic Crimes Court and National Anti-Corruption Court move forward, we’re bringing you a series of special interviews with Liberian and international experts and stakeholders about how the courts will work.

In this interview, I speak with Adama Dempster, a longtime Liberian human rights and transitional justice advocate, who has recently been leading calls for victims to begin receiving reparations without waiting for the establishment of the court.

Support the show

Support for this podcast came from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union. (Until September 2026, the program was supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and American Jewish World Service.)

Coming up in this episode. 

After a month-long trial that gripped the nation, eleven people are convicted in Liberia’s largest human trafficking case. Traffickers are sentenced to 50 years. As lawmakers battle over the fate of Liberia’s war crimes court, the tribunal has won some surprising backers: warlords. Experts warn that Liberia’s new health agreement with the United States could reduce funding, weaken oversight and restrict reproductive health- care.

And we meet the women driving Liberia’s electric kehkehs—breaking gender barriers while helping to reduce harmful air pollution.

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

Support for this podcast came from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union. (Until September 2026, the program was supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and American Jewish World Service.)

Sweden's ambassador Karl Backéus says his government will continue supporting Liberia’s efforts to establish a War and Economic Crimes Court and a range of other priorities including sexual and reproductive health and rights — despite ending direct development assistance to the country.

The ambassador says his government remains committed to Liberia’s post-war justice process and hopes lawmakers will approve legislation establishing the court within the next few months.

But he says Liberia will have to take greater financial responsibility for the court.

Support the show

Support for this podcast came from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union. (Until September 2026, the program was supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and American Jewish World Service.)

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

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, I speak with Aaron Weah, a Liberian academic and transitional justice expert. With nearly two decades of experience working on transitional justice in Liberia and across West Africa, including the International Center for Transitional Justice in Liberia. He also worked on the country’s 2009 Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 

He currently leads the Ducor Institute for Social and Economic Research, a Liberia-based public-policy and social-research think tank.

Recently, Weah launched a podcast series, Liberia: Remembering the Future, with British journalist Gerry Naughton. The series explores Liberia’s complex history and its continuing impact on the country today, touching on issues including Liberia’s transition from war to peace and its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. The series has received no external funding. 

Support the show

Support for this podcast came from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union. (Until September 2026, the program was supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and American Jewish World Service.)

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. 

Support the show

Support for this podcast came from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union. (Until September 2026, the program was supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and American Jewish World Service.)

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

Support for this podcast came from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union. (Until September 2026, the program was supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and American Jewish World Service.)

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

Support for this podcast came from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union. (Until September 2026, the program was supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and American Jewish World Service.)

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

Support for this podcast came from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union. (Until September 2026, the program was supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and American Jewish World Service.)