Liberian refugees stranded at sea return home by air, UN says
28 May – More than 300 Liberian refugees who were stranded at sea during attempts to repatriate have arrived in Monrovia aboard a plane chartered by the United Nations and a partner agency. FULL STORY UN

S/Leone Trials Begin Without The Prime Suspect—Charles Taylor

Sierra Leone War crimes trials will begin today in Freetown, but one person that will not appear, thanks to the Nigerians, is Charles Taylor, the prime suspect described as carrying the main responsibility for the slaughters that marred that country for over a decade. Several attempts to have Taylor extradited have failed, and the Liberian interim leader, Charles Gyude Bryant, insists he will not seek Taylor’s extradition because the indicted war criminal’s exile was a deal that made him interim leader.

Alleged Killer's  Background  Reveals Links to Benjamin Yeaten and Cocoo Dennis

29 May 04

Although the Americans have concluded that the motive behind killing of a civilian worker attached to the US Defence Department, John Auffrey, 44, was robbery, the background and connections of the main suspect, Emmanuel Mulbah, still at large, is revealing.

26-May-2004Stranded Liberians head home after nightmare voyage to Ivory CoastAFP

26-May-2004For Liberia's displaced to be able to return home, combatants must be disarmed effectivelyNRC

Civic Society Groups Launch Campaign for Charles Taylor’s Trial

By Mambu James Kpargoi

25 May 04

With mounting pressure on the Nigerian Government for the surrender of exile former Liberian President and indicted war criminal Charles Taylor to the UN backed Special War Crimes Court in Sierra Leone, Civil Society groupings in Liberia have signed a memorandum of understanding to campaign for the surrender and prosecution of Mr. Taylor in Sierra Leone. If successful, the campaign could force interim chair Charles Gyude Bryant to recant his repeated decision not to seek Taylor's trial on the basis it was a part of the peace deal that brought him to power.

Charles Taylor's Grip on Economy and Politics “Significant”—Global Witness

25 May 04

Indicted war criminal and exiled former Liberian president Charles Taylor maintains “significant” grip on businesses and politics while mercenary activities in the country continues, says the environmental rights group Global Witness is a  report this week. 

Taylor’s Foreign Accounts Emerging With Emmanuel Shaw as Conduit

25 May 04

A umber of bank accounts of exiled former President Charles Taylor are surfacing, with Global Witness revealing an unsigned letter by Emmanuel Shaw, now advisor to interim leader  Charles Gyude Bryant,  authorising payments into Taylor’s overseas accounts.  Global Witness, in uncovering the accounts, noted:

24-May-2004Liberia: Back to the future-GW

24-May-2004UN disarmament teams in West Africa meet to work out strategiesUN News

Liberian refugees end horror trip BBC

Catholics Demand War Crimes Tribunal

By Mambu James Kpargoi

22 May 04

The Roman Church in Liberia has joined the mounting campaign for war crimes tribunal for all those who allegedly committed crimes during the country’s decade of civil war near ending. The Church says while it supports a Truth Reconciliation Commission, which the warlords prefer, a war crimes tribunal is needed to ensure that justice is done.

21-May-2004Liberian refugees expected in Abidjan on nightmare journey home
AFP

20-May-2004Solutions to refugee problem common responsibility, require adequate resources, Ruud Lubbers tells Security CouncilUN SC

Aid on the way for Liberian refugees stranded off Ivorian coast
A group of 430 refugees on their way back to Liberia from Nigeria and Ghana have been found after their boat developed engine problems off the southern coast of Côte d'Ivoire.

19-May-2004Liberia: Key northern Liberian town (Voinjama) faces relief crisisIRIN

19-May-2004Aid on the way for Liberian refugees stranded off Ivorian coasUNHCR

18-May-2004Liberia: returnee population registration and verification begins UNHCR

18-May-2004Liberia's war is over; humanitarian donations plummet WFP

US-Based Lofa County Citizens Condemn Alleged Plots to Stall Disarmament
(Press Release)

One Person Killed, Several Wounded as Ex-Taylor Rebels Rampage

17 May 04

With the disarmament process proceeding smoothly in rural Liberia, fighters of the former government of exiled and  indicted war criminal  former President Charles Taylor  for the second time  today went  on the rampage in the capital Monrovia, leaving one person dead and several wounded.

Dweh, Others Denounced as Bryant Remains Firm

By James Kpargoi

16 May 04

The rebel Liberian United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), the largest of the two rebel groups, is now heading for an official split, with key members from Lofa County denouncing largely South-eastern members and accusing interim Speaker George Dweh of schemes to stall disarmament.

Splintered LURD Rebel Chiefs “Suspend” Cooperation With Bryant, Plan New Moves 

By James Kpargoi  

14 May 04

Some leaders of the increasingly splintered  Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) say they have suspended cooperation with the interim administration over the failure to remove the  Minister of Finance (not the Governor of the National Bank as previously reported here) and replace him with their selected candidate. The decision, which has been denounced by the rebels’ leader Seku Conneh, comes after a 24-hr ultimatum issued Wednesday to interim chair Charles Gyude Brant.

George Dweh, Others Give Bryant 24hr Ultimatum for Bank Governor Post

13 May 04

Five leading members of the rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy(LURD) Wednesday night gave a 24-hr ultimatum for interim chair Charles Gyude Bryant to appoint their nominee Governor of the National Bank or they will halt the current disarmament process. But LURD's chief, Seku Damante Conneh, speaking from London, called the ultimatum “a joke.”

12 May 04

The controversial Governor of the National Bank of Liberia, Elias Saleeby, has resigned. But the Speaker of the rebel dominated interim parliament, George Dweh, says he has instructed security forces to investigate Mr. Saleeby and that he should not leave the country without permission.

10-May-2004Liberia: UNMIL's crackdown on trafficking puts women at riskRI

07-May-2004 UNAMSIL chief visits Liberia to enhance regional cooperationUNMIL

07-May-2004Liberia: Top ex-Government commanders disarm to UN peacekeepersUNMIL

06-May-2004 Lubbers ends West Africa mission; appeals for funds for Liberia
UNHCR

Recruitment campaign for 3,500 new police in Liberia begins – UN mission
6 May – Recruitment has begun for 3,500 new police officers in Liberia as part of the effort to help re-establish the rule of law in the West Africa country, the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) said today. FULL STORY>>

UN mission disarms over 18,000 ex-rebels in Liberia-UN
5 May – With more than 10,000 weapons collected from over 18,000 ex-fighters, the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) is winding down the first phase of its programme to demobilize and disarm the war-torn West African country's three main warring factions. FULL STORY>>

30 April 04

The Speaker of the transitional assembly has called on Liberians to stop blaming Charles Taylor, indicted for war crimes, for the years of war that led to national collapse. George Dweh, accused of many human rights abuses during the reign of his kinsman Liberia’s military strongman Samuel Doe, killed in 1990, says a truth commission, not a war crimes tribunal, should be formed.

30-Apr-2004UN opens last phase of Liberian disarmament amid questions over missing gunsAFP