Category Archives: Samuel Doe

Liberia Human Rights report condemns continuation of female genital mutilation, trial by ordeal, and ritual killings

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As elaborated further in the article presented below, the human rights situation in Liberia, as reported by the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) in its 2024 Human Rights Situation Report, is very worrisome with severe human rights violations across the country. Notably, I quote, “The report (…) condemned the continuation of harmful traditional practices, particularly female genital mutilation (FGM), trial by ordeal, and ritual killings. Despite calls from both the government and traditional leaders to end these practices, they remain rampant (….)” Unquote.

Ritual killings, trial by ordeal (‘sassy wood trial’) and witchcraft accusations are persistent problems in Liberia and on many occasions I have drawn attention to these practices, reporting on particular ritual murder cases. In the recent past there have only been a few reported cases of ritual violence including murder but, as the 2024 Human Rights Situation Report of the INCHR demonstrates, this does not mean that the ugly practice of killing human beings for ‘juju’ purposes, traditional trials by ordeal and witchcraft accusations have vanished – unfortunately not.

It is interesting to note that the INCHR categorizes ritual killings as a traditional practice. It is a fact, that the origin of killing for ritual purposes (to obtain ‘juju’) in Liberia goes back to the history of certain tribal communities, but Liberia’s recent past contains an abundance of ritual murders which were committed because of sheer greed and which are hardly distinguishable from ordinary criminal acts including abduction, torture and murder.

Providing an exhaustive list of examples here would require too much space, I will just give three examples covering the past 50 years: (1) the Maryland murders in the late 1970s; (2) ritual killings in the Doe era (1990s) ; and (3) accusations linking the Weah Administration (2018 – 2024) to ritual killings – underligning that ritualistic murders are being committed in Liberia every year.
(Note: I purposely omit here the back-to-back civil wars (1989-2003) with its many atrocities, ritualistic killings and cannibalism.).

The one million dollar question that emerges is of course: ‘Why are there still ritual murderers in Liberia, why hasn’t the phenomenon of ritual killings disappeared?

He/she who knowns the answer should speak.
(webmaster FVDK)

Liberia: INCHR 2024 Report Highlights Alarming Human Rights Violations in Liberia

Published: March 28, 2025
By: Front Page Africa, Liberia

Monrovia-The 2024 Human Rights Situation Report released by the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) has shed light on severe human rights violations across Liberia, pointing to troubling trends that persist despite some positive efforts in certain sectors.

The report, presented by INCHR Chairperson Cllr. Dempster Brown, paints a concerning picture of the state of human rights in Liberia, with key violations spanning state security brutality, prolonged pretrial detention, gender-based violence, and the continued prevalence of harmful traditional practices.

State Security Brutality and Excessive Use of Force

The most pressing concern raised in the report is the brutality of state security forces. Instances of excessive use of force by law enforcement, often leading to deaths, have continued to occur with alarming frequency.

One such incident highlighted in the report was the killing of a 17-year-old student by a police officer on July 1, in Paynesville City.

The officer was involved in a confrontation with a suspect, and in an attempt to restrain the individual, he discharged his weapon, fatally injuring the student. Despite the officer being arrested and charged with murder, this case underscores a broader issue of unchecked violence by state security forces.

Prolonged Pretrial Detention and Judicial Delays

Another critical violation addressed in the report is the widespread issue of prolonged pretrial detention. Many individuals are held in detention for extended periods without trial, contributing to overcrowding in Liberia’s prisons.

These delays are further compounded by a shortage of judicial officers in rural areas, preventing timely adjudication of cases.

Prolonged Pretrial Detention and Judicial Delays

Another critical violation addressed in the report is the widespread issue of prolonged pretrial detention. Many individuals are held in detention for extended periods without trial, contributing to overcrowding in Liberia’s prisons.

These delays are further compounded by a shortage of judicial officers in rural areas, preventing timely adjudication of cases.

This backlog in the judicial system according to the report, has led to a growing distrust in the country’s ability to deliver justice.

Gender-Based Violence and Rape

The INCHR report also expressed grave concern over the persistence of gender-based violence (GBV), with rape cases, particularly those involving minors, remaining a constant threat.

Despite ongoing efforts to address this issue, there has been no significant reduction in the prevalence of sexual violence, with victims often left without adequate protection or recourse to justice.

Harmful Traditional Practices

The report further condemned the continuation of harmful traditional practices, particularly female genital mutilation (FGM), trial by ordeal, and ritual killings. (italics added by the webmaster)
Despite calls from both the government and traditional leaders to end these practices, they remain rampant, with young girls being particularly vulnerable. The practice of FGM, in particular, continues to impact young children who are often subjected to the procedure at the expense of their education and well-being.

Enforced Disappearances and Extrajudicial Killings

The issue of enforced disappearances was also highlighted, with the case of Abrahima Kalil Cherif standing out.

Cherif, who was arrested in 2024, was reported missing after being detained at the Monrovia Central Prison. His case, along with other instances of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, points to serious lapses in Liberia’s adherence to both national and international human rights standards.

The appalling conditions in Liberia’s prisons were another critical area of concern. Overcrowding, lack of medical care, and the rampant spread of diseases like tuberculosis and hepatitis B have created a dire situation for inmates.

The report stressed that the prolonged pretrial detention system exacerbates these conditions, placing detainees at severe risk of health complications.

Child Protection and Violations in Concession Areas

Additionally, the report said children in Liberia remain vulnerable to exploitation, with widespread reports of child labor, sexual violence, and even torture.

“Children accused of witchcraft are often subjected to public humiliation and violence, highlighting the need for stronger child protection measures. Additionally, the report pointed to violence in concession areas, where communities protesting against poor conditions have been met with deadly force from state security, leading to significant human rights abuses,” the report added.

Call for Immediate Action

In light of these grave violations, the INCHR has called for government immediate action to address the issues raised in the report.

The Commission has further recommended Investigations into all killings by state and non-state actors, with appropriate accountability, Expedited reforms to address the backlog in the judicial system and alleviate overcrowding in prisons, the criminalization of harmful traditional practices such as FGM and trial by ordeal, strengthened protections for women and children, particularly in the areas of gender-based violence and child labor and Enhanced oversight of law enforcement agencies to ensure accountability for misconduct.

Meanwhile, the 2024 INCHR report underscores the urgent need for reforms in Liberia’s approach to human rights, noting that continued violations, particularly those involving state security forces, judicial delays, gender-based violence, and harmful traditional practices, demand immediate attention from the government.

The INCHR said that without significant changes, Liberia risks undermining its commitment to human rights, both domestically and on the international stage.

Source: Liberia: INCHR 2024 Report Highlights Alarming Human Rights Violations in Liberia

General Quiwonkpa, revenge and juju in Liberia

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Much has already been written (and said) about the late Thomas G. Quiwonkpa, one of the main perpetrators of the bloody 1980 coup in Liberia – if not the most important – who savagely toppled the regime of President William Tolbert. Thomas Quiwonkpa was a Gio from Nimba County and at the time of the coup a corporal in the Liberian Army. The reason why he did not emerge as the leader of the coup was that his comrade Samuel Kanyon Doe, a Krahn from Grand Gedeh County, was a master-sergeant in the same army, hence one military grade higher than Quiwonkpa. Doe thus became leader of the PRC, the People’s Redemption Council. Quiwonkpa was promoted General and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

However, the two comrades later fell out and – to shorten a long story – in 1983 Quiwonkpa fled to the United States to escape an inevitable death by Doe loyalists. After fraudulent elections in 1985, Quiwonkpa returned with a group of armed men to install the real winner but the attempted coup against Samuel Doe failed. Quiwonkpa was captured by Doe’s forces, killed and partly cannibalized, his mutilated body publicly exhibited.

Using parts of Quiwonkpa’s body for ritualistic purposes and exposing his mutilated body publicly was meant to create juju and to enhance his killers’ power and prestige. Notably Samuel Doe and his Krahn soldiers who had captured the late General were to benefit from the thus created juju. (Source: Fred van der Kraaij, ‘Liberia: From the Love of Liberty to Paradise Lost’. African Studies Centre Leiden, 2015, p.52-56).

Liberia’s history is full of irony. When in 1990 President Samuel Doe was tortured to death by rebel commander Prince Johnson and his group he suffered the same fate. Doe’s mutilated body was publicly exposed in Monrovia (Source: Idem, p. 63) Warning – readers are warned that the picture of the late President Doe (below) might be found disturbing.

Thomas Quiwonkpa (left) and Samuel Doe (right) after the coup, April 1980.
Liberian soldiers point their rifles at the mutilated body of the late President Samuel Doe, September 1990.
Image by © Patrick Robert/Sygma/Corbis

On March 10, 2020 an article appeared in the Daily Observer, one of Liberia’s leading newspapers, entitled ‘Memorial to Late Gen. Thomas G. Quiwonkpa Under Construction in Ganta, and for shortness sake it will be reproduced below.

Memorial to Late Gen. Thomas G. Quiwonkpa Under Construction in Ganta

Monument to Quiwonkpa: “Today, he is gone, but nothing is left of him as a memorial for someone to lay wreath or pay homage on Decoration Day or even the Armed Forces Day,” said Ebenezer Williams.

Published: March 10, 2020
By: The Daily Observer, Ishmael F. Menkor 

It appears to be one of the most unlikely places but, the Sanana Funeral Home in Ganta, along the road leading to Sanniquellie, Nimba County, has sealed on its wall the memorial of the late General Thomas G. Quiwonkpa. Quiwonkpa was killed in an aborted coup staged by him in 1985, and there is no trace of his grave as reports at the time noted that he was butchered with his heart extracted and testes placed in wine and drunk by his killers.

General Quiwonkpa, like some others including then Head-of-State Samuel Doe of the People’s Redemption Council (PRC), who seized power in 1980 following the assassination of President William R. Tolbert on April 12, do not have graves and therefore their surviving families and relatives are not able to memorialize them on Decoration Day on the second Wednesday in March of every year.

The proprietor of the Sanana funeral home, Ebenezer Williams, told the Daily Observer that the late Quiwonkpa was one of Liberia’s heroes, but nothing has been enshrined in any part of Liberia as a memorial. The memorial, still under construction, is expected to be covered in marble.

The late Gen. Thomas G. Quiwonkpa

“I saw him at the Du-Side Hospital when I was small at the time. He used to visit the hospital for an eye treatment, and was always sharing with us every time we visited him,” he said.

“Today, he is gone, but nothing is left of him as a memorial for someone to lay wreath or pay homage on Decoration Day or even the Armed Forces Day,” he said.

“This marble design in his honor will certainly make his memory not to be lost and will create an avenue for people for come to pay their respect,” he added.

The late General Thomas G. Quiwonkpa was born July 24, 1955 and was a member of the People’s Redemption Council, a governing military junta that overthrew President William Richard Tolbert on April 12, 1980, by assassination.

The late General Quiwonkpa defected from the PRC in 1983 after he was removed as Commanding General of the Armed Forces of Liberia and given the position of Secretary-General.

He later went into exile and returned in 1985 as head of a dissident group called the National Patriotic Front of Liberia, which staged an aborted coup and was killed.

Since the brutal death of the late Quewonkpa, there has been no memorialization of him, neither in his county nor the country.  Similar fate befell President Samuel Doe, who was also captured on September 9, 1990 and killed by the rebel group, Independent National Patriotic Front (INPFL) of Prince Johnson who is now a Senator of Nimba County. Sen. Johnson’s testimonies during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) hearings indicated that Doe’s body was buried, then exhumed following request for an assessment. By tradition, since he could not be buried twice, the late President’s body was cremated and the ashes scattered in the river in Caldwell, where the INPFL had its base.

Williams, proprietor of the Sanana Funeral Home, is not a native of Nimba; however, he believes the slain General Quiwonkpa was a good and honest man in the Armed Forces of Liberia who needs to be remembered.

“We want people to constantly pay homage to this place and lay a wreath, either on his birthday, Decoration Day, or even the Armed Forces Day,” he concluded.

The people of Grand Gedeh County are also contemplating on erecting a monument in memory of slain President Samuel Doe to memorialize him.  Scores of PRC members including Vice Head-of-State Thomas Wey-sehn and Deputy Vice Head-of-State, J. Nicholas Podier, also seem to have no identifiable graves to decorate.

Source: Memorial to Late Gen. Thomas G. Quiwonkpa Under Construction in Ganta

Recommended additional reading for those interested in Liberia’s politics and history:

Quote: “Quiwonkpa was captured and on November 15 was killed and mutilated by Krahn soldiers loyal to Doe . His killers then dismembered his body and reportedly ate parts of it. His body was publicly exhibited on the grounds of the Executive Mansion in Monrovia soon after his death.” Unquote
Source: Thomas Quiwonkpa – click here

Warning: a shocking account with graphic contents (webmaster FVDK):
General Quiwonkpa and Marconi: a connection of deadly proportions – click here

Warning: the follows contains graphic details (webmaster FVDK):
The Rise And Fall Of Samuel Doe Of Liberia (graphic Pics & Video ) – click here

Liberia: Rise in ritual killings prompts president Sirleaf to pledge security crackdown

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On numerous occasions Liberian leaders have publicly denounced the ritual murders that take place in the country. We can mention President William Tolbert (1971-1980), Gyude Bryant (Chair of the Transitional Government after the Second Civil War, 2003-2006) and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (2006-2018). The fact that the presidents Samuel Doe and Charles Taylor were not so outspoken on this subject, certainly not in public, has special reasons……..  

The article below on Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s warning and reaction does not constitute the first and only time that she denounced the phenomenon of ritualistic killings in her country. More on it at a later stage.
(Webmaster FVDK) 

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says increase in ritualistic killings and armed robbery are threatening security

Published: November 20, 2015
By: The Guardian 

Liberia’s president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, vowed on Thursday to crack down on those responsible for a rise in ritual killings in the West African country as it seeks to emerge from the shadow of an Ebola epidemic.

In some areas of central Africa, body parts are prized for their supernatural powers and are used in black magic ceremonies. Local media have reported at least 10 related murders in Liberia in the past few months. (Italics added by the webmaster, FVDK).

Johnson Sirleaf said in a speech: “We are witnessing the rise in what appears to be ritualistic killings and armed robbery in the country, thus threatening our security.” 

“I am instructing the security forces to rigorously enforce the law to the letter and bring this ugly situation under immediate control.”

It is not yet clear why ritual killings are rising and Johnson Sirleaf offered no explanation. Some residents have speculated that presidential hopefuls seeking to replace Johnson Sirleaf when her final term expires in 2017 are using black magic to boost their chances.

Liberia was declared Ebola-free for the second time in September after reporting more than 4,800 deaths but its economy is struggling to recover.

Johnson Sirleaf said in the same speech she would seek to boost power supply and access to electricity and build additional infrastructure in the last two years of her term.

Source: Rise in ritual killings in Liberia prompts president to pledge security crackdown