The human rights situation in Liberia under the leadership of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has reached alarming levels, according to the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR). The Commission’s 2024 report paints a disturbing picture of escalating state-sponsored brutality, unchecked violence, and systemic failures that are rapidly eroding the country’s progress toward democratic consolidation and human rights protections. Despite some government claims of positive reforms in areas such as justice sector support, media freedom, and health, these advancements are overshadowed by a grim reality of human rights violations.
The report highlights that the most important and urgent concern is the excessive use of force by Liberia’s state security agencies, particularly the Liberia National Police (LNP). In July 2024, a 17-year-old student was fatally shot by an LNP officer in Paynesville while attempting to detain a suspect. Such incidents are not isolated. There have been several deaths in police custody, including two in April and June of 2024. These tragic events point to a broader pattern of state security forces abusing their power with little consequence, compounding public disillusionment with law enforcement.
Perhaps most alarming is the persistent failure of Liberia’s justice system to address egregious crimes such as mob violence, ritualistic killings, and excessive state violence. Inaction and impunity have become the norm. The Commission’s report reveals that many serious criminal acts, including murder, go uninvestigated, while those responsible face no repercussions. The failure to prosecute state security forces for killings further entrenches a culture of impunity that deepens distrust in Liberia’s legal institutions.
Beyond the failures of law enforcement, Liberia’s judiciary is struggling to fulfill its role, with cases of prolonged pretrial detention becoming increasingly common. For those who are detained, the conditions within the country’s prisons are dire. Overcrowding, lack of basic medical care, and rampant disease such as tuberculosis and hepatitis B are putting detainees’ lives at severe risk. The report highlights that many individuals are held for minor offenses due to a lack of legal aid or access to justice, making the country’s detention facilities a breeding ground for human rights abuses.
Gender-based violence remains another dark stain on Liberia’s human rights record, with rape and sexual violence being especially prevalent. The report indicates that minors are disproportionately affected, and many perpetrators continue to evade justice due to lengthy judicial delays. Furthermore, harmful traditional practices like female genital mutilation (FGM) and ritualistic killings continue to thrive, despite official pledges to eradicate them. The government’s apparent unwillingness or inability to address these practices has left vulnerable populations, especially women and children, exposed to exploitation and harm.
The Commission also raised significant concerns about Liberia’s economic and social rights. Basic necessities like quality healthcare and education remain out of reach for many citizens, particularly in rural areas. The government has made meager progress in these areas, but the situation is worsened by the prioritization of state officials’ benefits over the well-being of ordinary Liberians. The inadequate allocation of resources to social services has left the country’s citizens grappling with the stark reality of inequality and systemic neglect.
The exploitation of local communities by multinational corporations operating in Liberia’s concession areas has compounded the country’s human rights crisis. The Bea Mountain incident, in which state security forces allegedly killed protesters demanding to be heard, is a striking example of the state’s complicity in corporate violence. The targeting of human rights defenders in these regions only exacerbates fears of retaliation, stifling dissent and empowering powerful corporate interests to operate without accountability.
Children’s rights are also under siege, with cases of child labor especially on rubber plantations continuing to rise. Additionally, the detention of juveniles in adult prisons rather than appropriate reformatories exposes them to further abuse and exploitation. These practices represent a glaring violation of Liberia’s obligations under international human rights law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which it is a signatory.
In light of these findings, the INCHR has called for urgent reforms. These include immediate investigations into all killings, whether by state or non-state actors, and the criminalization of harmful traditional practices such as FGM and trial by ordeal. The Commission also recommends the decriminalization of minor offenses to reduce the overcrowding in prisons and calls for a robust legislative framework to protect children from exploitation and violence. Crucially, there must be a commitment to improving the justice system to ensure that perpetrators of human rights violations are held accountable and that victims receive justice.
While acknowledging the support of international bodies like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Commission emphasizes that Liberia’s human rights challenges cannot be resolved through external assistance alone. The Boakai administration must take ownership of the situation and implement real, transformative changes that align with Liberia’s constitutional and international obligations.
The current state of human rights in Liberia is nothing short of a crisis, and the Boakai administration now faces a critical test. The international community is watching closely, and failure to take immediate and meaningful action will not only tarnish Liberia’s reputation but could also have serious repercussions for its standing in the global community. The government must prove that its commitment to human rights is more than just rhetoric and that it is prepared to address these issues head-on, with concrete reforms and a steadfast commitment to justice.
