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Daily Maverick
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Postwar Liberia still struggles with corruption and impunity
Corruption was a cause of Liberia's 14-year civil war and also triggered the current political crisis that threatens the country's stability. On 23 April, Liberia's supreme court affirmed the legitimacy of the Speaker of the House of Representatives Jonathan Fonati Koffa. This followed months of legislative impasse and political crisis triggered by rival legislators' vote to remove Koffa over alleged budget manipulations, overruns and a conflict of interest involving his law firm and government agencies. The legislators, forming the 'Majority Bloc', had voted to elect Richard Koon to replace Koffa. They alleged that Koffa's office overspent its allocation of about $1.5-million by more than $4-million in 2022 and about $3-million in 2023. These amounts, they said, could not be accounted for. The situation disrupted legislative business, provoking protests and apparently causing fires to be set in the Capitol Building. Importantly, it highlights the country's struggle to break from one of the direct causes of its 1989-2003 civil war – corruption and impunity – and the need for renewed and sustained anti-corruption efforts. Among the key objectives of the 2003 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which ended the conflict, was combating corruption and institutionalising good governance. These were reinforced by recommendations of the truth and reconciliation commission, and successive postwar governments have – at least officially – made them key components of their governance agenda. Key among the several steps taken to achieve these objectives were establishing the Governance Commission in 2007, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission in 2008 and the General Auditing Commission in 2014. In 2022, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission Act was amended to grant direct prosecutorial powers to the commission, in addition to passing a Whistleblower Act and the Witness Protection Act to facilitate public reporting of corrupt acts. In April 2024, the legislature voted to approve President Joseph Boakai's proposal to set up a War and Economic Crimes Court to prosecute perpetrators of serious abuses committed during the civil war. Notwithstanding these efforts, Liberia remains haunted by entrenched corruption, consistently ranking close to the bottom of Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index. Its score has been less than 40 and has declined since 2013. Institute for Security Studies interviews with several stakeholders point to a culture of political patronage and lack of political will to ensure criminal accountability for corruption. Institutional weakness – and often dysfunctionality – is also among the causal factors that have transcended various governments. These deep-seated challenges were acknowledged in 2016 by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia's first postwar president, but have since persisted. She noted that her government had 'not fully met the anti-corruption pledge… because of the intractability of dependency and dishonesty cultivated from years of deprivation and poor governance'. A succession of corruption scandals rocked her government, including those emanating from General Auditing Commission investigations, but for which there were no prosecutions. George Weah, who succeeded Sirleaf, faced immense public unease following several scandals involving his appointees. Like in the Sirleaf era, public appointments based on political connections and personal relations under Weah meant appointees were not prosecuted for corruption. Yet some stakeholders still argued that corruption under Weah became insidious and accounted for his electoral defeat in November 2023. In August 2022, for instance, the US Department of the Treasury sanctioned Liberian government officials Nathaniel McGill, Sayma Syrenius Cephus and Bill Twehway for graft. Former finance minister Samuel Tweah was also sanctioned in December 2023 alongside two senators and Monrovia's mayor, Jefferson Koijee, for involvement in corruption and, in Koijee's case, human rights abuses. None of these cases resulted in prosecutions, a situation that has drawn criticism of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission for failing to exercise its prosecutorial powers. However, it reflects the resource and capacity constraints and lack of political and fiscal independence faced by the commission and other anti-corruption institutions, particularly the General Auditing Commission. Much like his predecessors, Boakai has sought to strike the right tone by promising to fight corruption. In February he suspended more than 450 government officials, including the health and education ministers and high-ranking state institution officials. They were accused of undermining 'national efforts to combat corruption and ensure accountability' by failing to declare assets as required by law. Yet, the president has been criticised for being selective and politically motivated by suspending certain officials for corrupt acts while leaving others with the same allegations untouched. Boakai's anti-corruption agenda also faces other challenges. His appointment of Jonathan Massaquoi to head the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court – the body mandated to prepare the legal grounds for the court's establishment – sparked controversy over Massaquoi's previous legal representation of Agnes Taylor, wife of convicted former president Charles Taylor. Rooting out corruption and institutionalising good governance remains a vital postwar imperative. Doing so requires far more than setting up anti-corruption frameworks. Stakeholders must tackle the culture of patronage, promote criminal accountability for corrupt acts and remove political and resource impediments to institutional effectiveness. The current political crisis, rooted in allegations of corruption, also offers a unique opportunity for Liberia to take stock of its good governance and anti-corruption progress and renew its efforts. DM Sampson Kwarkye, project manager for Littoral West African States, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Regional Office for West Africa and the Sahel.
Asharq Al-Awsat
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Hemedti's Advisor to Asharq Al-Awsat: Our Government's Priority Is Neutralizing the Army's Air Power
Senior Advisor to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Commander, Ezzedine Al-Safi, stated that Sudan's upcoming 'Government of Peace and Unity' aims to protect civilians from the systematic and unprecedented aerial bombardment carried out by the Sudanese army. In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Safi said that the new government, expected to be formed within a month of signing the political charter and interim constitution in Nairobi, will seek mechanisms to halt these attacks, which have killed over 5,000 people in recent months. The RSF official emphasized that the primary duty of the new government is to stop the air raids. When asked if the RSF intends to acquire advanced air defense systems, he explained that the government would comply with international protocols on weapon acquisition, ensuring that only a national army possesses such capabilities. He argued that the Sudanese army's sole military advantage lies in its air force and that neutralizing it would force the army to negotiate peace. Regarding international recognition, Al-Safi dismissed the legitimacy of the Port Sudan-based government, claiming that it has seized state institutions to obtain weapons. He expressed hope that regional and international governments would support the new administration's vision for peace and endorse it as Sudan's legitimate government. However, he stressed that the real recognition would come from the Sudanese people, 'who have suffered for over two years from war, hunger, and deprivation.' He accused the Sudanese army and allied Islamist militias of weaponizing starvation against civilians, leading to food shortages and famine in several regions. The new government, he asserted, will restore security, provide essential services, and work with friendly nations and humanitarian organizations to rebuild war-torn areas, regardless of political recognition. Al-Safi revealed that the new government would be announced from Khartoum, dismissing speculation that it would be formed in exile. He clarified that the ongoing political discussions in Kenya are meant to finalize the political charter, similar to Kenya's previous mediation efforts that led to Sudan's 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. He confirmed that the charter has been approved, the interim constitution is in its final stages, and the government's emergency program has been outlined. The final steps involve appointing government officials, including ministers and governors for Sudan's 18 states, with the formation deadline set within a month of signing the interim constitution. On alliances, Al-Safi confirmed that the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), led by Abdelaziz Al-Hilu, is in advanced discussions to join the new government. A finalized version of the political charter incorporating SPLM's amendments has been agreed upon, and full participation is expected once their delegation arrives in Nairobi, he remarked, adding that discussions with the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Abdelwahid Al-Nur, are ongoing, with growing prospects of his faction joining as well. Al-Safi concluded that the new government already enjoys widespread public support, as demonstrated by mass rallies in Darfur. Following its formation, official delegations will engage regional and Western governments, as well as international organizations, to outline their plans for peace, reconstruction, and humanitarian relief, he stated.
Asharq Al-Awsat
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Sudan Recalls Ambassador from Kenya, Vows to Protect Its Sovereignty
Sudan's Foreign Ministry recalled its ambassador from Kenya for consultations in response to meetings in Nairobi aimed at forming a Sudanese government backed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The development is part of a growing diplomatic dispute, with Sudan accusing Kenya of supporting efforts to establish a parallel administration to the military-led government based in the interim capital Port Sudan. The ministry warned that the country would take the necessary measures to safeguard its national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The recall was a direct protest against Nairobi's decision to host what the Sudanese government termed a gathering of 'the rebel militia and its allies' and saw these meetings as another hostile act against the country, reported the official Sudanese news agency (SUNA). On Wednesday, Kenyan Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi defended his country's decision to host the discussions, stating that the initiative was coordinated with the African Union and the United Nations as part of efforts to find a solution to the ongoing war in Sudan. However, Sudan's Foreign Ministry dismissed this justification in a statement on Thursday, calling it an attempt to 'legitimize President William Ruto's endorsement of a conspiracy to establish a government for a militia responsible for genocide.' The statement further claimed that Sudan had tried to diplomatically persuade Kenya to reconsider its position, but without success. The ministry urged Nairobi to abandon what it described as a 'dangerous course of action' that threatens regional peace and security, encourages terrorism and facilitates human rights violations. Sudan also vowed to take decisive steps to protect its sovereignty. In response to Sudan's accusations, Mudavadi reiterated that the Nairobi meetings, which included RSF representatives, armed groups and political and civil forces, were intended to accelerate efforts to end the war. Nairobi hosted this week meetings involving various armed factions, political parties and civil groups, with the RSF's participation. They sought to draft a 'political charter' to establish what is being called a 'peace government,' intended to operate in parallel to the administration in Port Sudan. Mudavadi emphasized that Kenya remains committed to helping restore stability and civilian rule in Sudan, working in coordination with the UN and the African Union. Sudan was on a promising path toward stability, democracy and prosperity just four years ago before conflict derailed the transition, leading to a devastating civil war, he noted. Calling for greater international and regional attention to Sudan's crisis, Mudavadi asserted that Kenya's role as a regional peace broker is longstanding. He referenced the country's past mediation efforts, including hosting peace talks that led to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which ended Sudan's previous civil war and paved the way for South Sudan's independence. He insisted that Kenya's involvement in Sudanese peace efforts is motivated purely by a commitment to regional stability, not hidden agendas. According to Mudavadi, his country's facilitation of talks aligns with the African Union's principles and the bloc's decision in October 2021 to suspend Sudan's membership following a military coup. He added that RSF and civil groups gathering in Nairobi to develop a political roadmap is consistent with Kenya's role as a neutral mediator, providing a platform for all parties in pursuit of peace. Kenya remains in solidarity with the Sudanese people in determining their own future, he stressed.
