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CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 11, 2026 — Dr. Cllr. Jallah Barbu, executive director of Liberia’s Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court (OWECC-L), is attending a University of Cape Town symposium marking the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the office said Saturday.
The gathering brings together transitional-justice practitioners, policymakers, and scholars for panel discussions and keynote addresses on truth-telling, reparations, institutional reform, and accountability in post-conflict societies.
Barbu’s trip comes as Liberia moves to set up a War and Economic Crimes Court and a proposed anti-corruption court, both long discussed in the country’s efforts to address abuses linked to its civil wars.
Ahead of the event, Barbu called South Africa’s commission one of the most cited examples in transitional-justice debates. “The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa represents a significant chapter in the global pursuit of justice and reconciliation,” he said. “As Liberia continues its own journey toward accountability and healing, there are critical lessons to be drawn from both the successes and challenges of the South African model.”
Organizers said the program will also examine how truth commissions and related processes can be adapted to meet new challenges in societies emerging from conflict and systemic abuse.
OWECC-L said Barbu plans to take part in discussions on Liberia’s court-establishment process and to meet with other participants to exchange best practices and explore partnerships.
Liberia’s civil conflicts from 1989 to 2003 killed thousands and were marked by widespread human rights abuses. Calls for prosecutions and other accountability measures have persisted among victims’ groups and civil society, including recommendations from Liberia’s own Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
OWECC-L was created by Executive Order No. 131 issued by President Joseph Nyumah Boakai to lead work toward establishing a War and Economic Crimes Court and a national anti-corruption court.
South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established in the mid-1990s, following apartheid, and combined public testimony with recommendations aimed at national healing and reforms.
OWECC-L said lessons from the Cape Town discussions are expected to inform its ongoing engagement with national and international partners as Liberia debates the design and launch of the proposed courts.
About OWECC-L
OWECC-L is a Liberian government office tasked with coordinating efforts to establish a War and Economic Crimes Court and a national anti-corruption court.
