In a move aimed at curbing the growing menace of mob violence, the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), with support from the Ministry of Justice, has launched a Justice Peace Ambassadors initiative in fifteen communities across Montserrado and Margibi Counties.
The initiative forms part of FLY’s ongoing “Justice, Not Jungle Justice” campaign and seeks to empower young people to promote peaceful conflict resolution, strengthen trust between communities and law enforcement, and encourage citizens to pursue justice through legal institutions rather than mob action.
Unlike Community Watch Forums that focus primarily on neighborhood security, the Justice Peace Ambassadors will serve as community advocates for peace, dialogue and lawful justice by helping de-escalate tensions, encouraging crime reporting through legal channels and fostering cooperation with security agencies.
According to FLY, mob justice continues to erode the rule of law by denying suspects their constitutional right to due process, destroying evidence and weakening public confidence in Liberia’s justice system. The organization believes the initiative will help prevent violent reprisals and reinforce respect for legal processes.
The Ministry of Justice said its support reflects a shift toward preventive justice by investing in community-based interventions designed to stop violence before it occurs while strengthening public confidence in the country’s justice institutions.
Speaking at the launch, FLY President Ernest Duku Jallah said young people must become champions of justice instead of participants in violence.
“The rule of law cannot thrive where mob justice becomes the first response to crime. Young people must become defenders of justice, not participants in violence,” Jallah said.
While the initiative has been welcomed as a proactive step, its success will likely depend on sustained community engagement, adequate support for the ambassadors and the justice system’s ability to respond swiftly and fairly to reported crimes.
FLY says it will continue working with the Ministry of Justice and other partners to expand the campaign and promote peaceful, law-based conflict resolution across Liberia.
