After more than a decade of investigation, Belgian authorities will prosecute Martina Johnson, a former commander in Liberia’s National Patriotic Front (NPFL), for alleged war crimes committed during the country’s first civil war (1989–1996).
Johnson, 55, is accused of torture and mutilation during the NPFL’s 1992 assault on Monrovia, known as “Operation Octopus.”
The case originated from three complaints filed in Belgium in 2012. Johnson was arrested in 2014 and released on bail under strict conditions, including a travel ban.
The investigation, delayed for years, accelerated in 2022 when Belgian police traveled to Liberia and other countries to collect evidence and interview witnesses. The resulting case file now exceeds 10,000 pages.
Johnson, once a senior figure in Charles Taylor’s rebel forces, reportedly commanded artillery units and had direct access to Taylor.
She now faces charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, torture, cannibalism, and recruitment of child soldiers—allegedly committed by forces under her command or supervision.
Witnesses describe Johnson as a “general,” “artillery commander,” and even Taylor’s personal bodyguard—roles that prosecutors argue placed her at the center of brutal attacks on civilians during the 1992 Monrovia offensive.
Ten named victims are included in the indictment, alongside dozens of anonymous witness testimonies compiled by prosecutors and human rights organizations over more than a decade.
Luc Walleyn, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs, welcomed the decision to move forward. “This case gives voice to the silenced and reminds perpetrators the world is watching, no matter how long it takes,” he said.
Defense attorney Jean Flamme criticized the process, claiming defense witnesses were ignored and questioning the reliability of some testimonies.
Another of Johnson’s lawyers, Nathalie Aernoudts, said Johnson was forcibly conscripted into the NPFL and only held a low-level security role. “The allegations are false, exaggerated, or politically motivated,” Aernoudts stated, adding that the lengthy delay violates Johnson’s right to a fair and timely hearing.
In a 2014 interview with Dutch newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, Johnson denied all accusations and portrayed herself as a victim.
“I was arrested by rebels and conscripted against my will into the ‘Special Security Service,’” she said, denying combat involvement or any connection to atrocities.
She also rejected the cannibalism allegations: “That I ate people? Disgusting. Where do people get that?”
Johnson now lives in Ghent, Belgium, where she works at a Volvo factory. Her trial is expected to begin early next year before the Ghent Assize Court.
Belgium is proceeding with the trial under its universal jurisdiction laws, which allow prosecution of international crimes regardless of where they occurred, provided the accused is on Belgian soil.
This principle has been applied in past cases involving Rwandan genocide suspects and Congolese militia leaders.
Johnson is the first woman-and the first person in Belgium-to face prosecution for crimes committed during Liberia’s civil war.
For many Liberians, the case represents more than legal accountability, it’s a step toward long-awaited justice. “They’re relieved it’s moving forward,” Walleyn said. “It’s historically important that Johnson is appearing before the Assizes.”
As Belgian judges review the extensive file, the prosecution of wartime atrocities in Liberia may finally begin to take shape—one page at a time.
