SENEGAMBIA, The Gambia — The Office for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia (OWECC-L), in collaboration with the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) and the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), engaged members of the Liberian community in The Gambia on September 30, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen public participation and diaspora engagement in Liberia’s transitional justice process.
The engagement, held at the Liberian Restaurant in Senegambia, brought together representatives of OWECC-L, WONGOSOL, FLY, and members of the Liberian community in The Gambia. The meeting provided an opportunity to share updates on Liberia’s transitional justice process, discuss the proposed establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court and National Anti-Corruption Court, and explore avenues for the Liberian diaspora to participate more meaningfully in the process.
OWECC-L explained that the engagement forms part of its broader outreach to Liberians outside the country, recognizing the important role of the diaspora in supporting accountability, justice, reconciliation, and national healing.
OWECC-L has undertaken similar engagements with Liberian communities in other countries, including Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Guinea, South Africa, Great Britain, and Côte d’Ivoire. The engagement in The Gambia represents another important step toward ensuring that Liberians abroad remain informed and connected to developments concerning transitional justice in Liberia.
For its part, WONGOSOL emphasized that transitional justice is a national process that must include the voices and perspectives of Liberians both at home and abroad. The organization further highlighted the role of civil society in advocating for the consideration and passage of the legislation required to establish the proposed courts.
Similarly, FLY reiterated the compelling inclusion of youths and young people and admonished the Liberian community in The Gambia to encourage youths and young people to get involved in the process.
Mr. Tommy Zoker, Acting Vice-Chair of the Liberian Community in The Gambia, welcomed the engagement and expressed appreciation for the effort to connect members of the diaspora with developments in Liberia.
He noted that such engagements help Liberians in The Gambia feel remembered and connected to their homeland. At the same time, he explained that many members of the community are primarily focused on economic and livelihood challenges arising from the high cost of living in The Gambia.
Mr. Zoker encouraged continued engagement and recommended that future activities take into consideration practical issues such as transportation and refreshments to facilitate broader participation.
He estimated the current Liberian population in The Gambia at approximately 200 people and noted that the community generally comes together during major Liberian national holidays and significant national occasions.
Members of the Liberian community also raised questions about the progress of Liberia’s transitional justice process and the prospects for establishing the proposed courts.
A community member, Mr. James (full name), expressed concerns about whether the process would ultimately result in the establishment of the courts and whether Liberians could be assured that their expectations would be met.
In response, the delegations explained that OWECC-L has completed nationwide public outreach and engagement on transitional justice and has developed the two draft bills relating to the proposed courts. The bills have been submitted through the appropriate channels and are currently before the National Legislature for consideration.
WONGOSOL reiterated the important role civil society organizations are playing in advocating for the consideration and passage of the legislation and in keeping transitional justice on the national agenda. The discussion underscored the importance of continued public advocacy, informed participation, and sustained engagement to advance Liberia’s transitional justice objectives.
During the meeting, WONGOSOL encouraged the Liberian community in The Gambia to consider developing a statement expressing its support for and interest in the passage of the transitional justice bills.
Such a statement would provide an opportunity for Liberians in The Gambia to demonstrate their solidarity with national efforts to pursue accountability, justice, reconciliation, and lasting peace.
The Acting Vice-Chair welcomed the proposal and indicated that the matter would be discussed with the leadership and members of the Liberian community. He also noted that a Liberian journalist based in The Gambia could potentially assist in communicating the community’s position.
OWECC-L also invited the Acting Vice-Chair and other members of the Liberian community in The Gambia to participate virtually in meetings of the National Transitional Justice Coordination Committee (NTJCC).
The NTJCC provides a platform for civil society organizations, national and international partners, and other stakeholders to receive updates and exchange views on developments within Liberia’s transitional justice process.
Mr. Zoker welcomed the invitation and expressed his willingness to participate in future virtual meetings.
Engaging Young Liberians
The meeting also explored opportunities to engage Liberian students in high schools and universities in The Gambia. OWECC-L noted that young Liberians represent an important constituency for strengthening awareness and understanding of transitional justice, civic participation, peacebuilding, reconciliation, and national responsibility.
The community confirmed that Liberian students are present in both high schools and universities, although their numbers have declined in recent years. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to maintaining communication and exploring opportunities for a larger engagement with the Liberian community in The Gambia.
Participants agreed that a future engagement could be organized around a major Liberian national holiday or significant national occasion to maximize participation. OWECC-L and WONGOSOL reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that Liberia’s transitional justice process remains inclusive and participatory, including through the meaningful engagement of Liberians in the diaspora.
