Liberia: Democracy in Focus

Three Die From Fumes in a Sealed Room, a Deported Warlord Leaves Victims Afraid, and a Malaria Breakthrough That Won't Come to Liberia Anytime Soon 24.03.2026 28mnt

Three young men die while sleeping in a sealed room. Experts warn they were likely killed by fumes from fresh paint. The deportation of a former rebel commander to liberia from the united states sparks safety fears among war crimes witnesses As more people go online, fraud is surging —authorities say stopping it isn’t easy and everyone is at risk. Theres a new drug promising a breakthrough malaria treatment for infants but Liberians might wait years. Welcome to our program looking at th...

Three dead from paint fumes, a deported warlord, rising fraud, and a malaria drug out of reach 19.03.2026 28mnt

Three young men die while sleeping in a sealed room. Experts warn they were likely killed by fumes from fresh paint. The deportation of a former rebel commander to Liberia from the united states sparks safety fears among war crimes witnesses As more people go online, fraud is surging —authorities say stopping it isn’t easy and everyone is at risk Theres a new drug promising a breakthrough malaria treatment for infants but Liberians might wait years. Welcome to our program looking at the...

SPECIAL INTERVIEW: Michelle Reyes Milk, Human Rights Watch point person for Liberia 18.03.2026 17mnt

As plans for Liberia’s war and economic crimes court and national anti-corruption court get underway, we’re running a series of special interviews with experts and stakeholders about how the courts will work. In this interview, I speak with Michelle Reyes Milk, senior counsel in the International Justice Program at Human Rights Watch and the new point person for Liberia. We spoke on the sidelines of a justice conference in Monrovia. Michelle has extensive experience in international criminal ...

SPECIAL INTERVIEW: Elise Keppler, international human rights expert with 20 years experience in Liberia 10.03.2026 15mnt

Welcome to this special edition of Democracy in Focus, a collaboration between New Narratives, Okay FM and Front Page Africa. I’m Anthony Stephens. As plans for Liberia’s war and economic crimes court get underway, we’re running a series of special interviews with experts and stakeholders about how the courts will work. In this interview, I speak with Elise Keppler, who held a range of senior positions at Human Rights Watch, focusing on international criminal justice, and accountability...

SPECIAL INTERVIEW: Binta Mansaray, former registrar of the Special Court for Sierra Leone 10.03.2026 26mnt

Welcome to this special edition of Democracy in Focus, a collaboration between New Narratives, Okay FM and Front Page Africa. I’m Anthony Stephens. As planning for Liberia’s war and economic crimes court get underway, we’re running a series of special interviews with experts and stakeholders about how the courts will work. In this interview, I speak with Binta Mansaray, Registrar of the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone, She served as Registrar during the court’s prosecution of th...

Superbugs, Gender Violence, and the Fight for Justice in Liberia 13.01.2026 28mnt

Coming up in this episode. Doctors warn that the rampant misuse of medications like antibiotics is fueling the rise of deadly superbugs —that are killing thousands and leaving patients defenseless. As Liberia marks sixteen days of activism against gender violence, a mother of six is killed by her husband. Experts say it exposes deep gaps in protection for rural women. And as justice advocates push to defeat a surprise bill that would block war crimes from being tried in Liberia’s ...

COP30 Tensions, Liberia’s Stress Crisis, the Latest War Crimes Court Tensions, and the Fight for Clear Vision 09.12.2025 28mnt

Coming up in this episode. At this year’s cop climate change summit, global powers move forward with green energy expansion despite U.S. withdrawal. But vulnerable nations like our own rage as adaptation funds fall short. A survey finds Liberians are among the world’s biggest worriers as experts link rising stress to chronic diseases, especially in women. Justice advocates lobby to kill a surprise bill that would stop war crimes from being tried in Liberia’s war crimes court. And cost a...

SPECIAL INTERVIEW: Fatou Bensouda, former Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court 20.11.2025 23mnt

As plans for Liberia’s war and economic crimes court and national anti-corruption court get underway, we’re running a series of special interviews with Liberian and international experts and stakeholders about how the courts will work. In this interview, Anthony Stephens speaks with Fatou Bom Bensouda, a former prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, on the sidelines of the African Investigative Journalism Conference in Johannesburg this month. A Gambian and the only woman to date to ...

Abortion Pills Are Saving Lives; Women Struggle With Postpartum Depression; Farmers Without Market Prices Shortchanged by Middlemen and War Crimes Court Advocates Criticize Decision to Prioritize Anti-Corruption Court 16.11.2025 28mnt

COMING UP IN THIS EPISODE. AS LIBERIA’S DRUG CRISIS WORSENS, UNLICENSED REHABILITATION CENTERS ARE PROFITING FROM FAMILIES’ MISERY. EXPERTS WANT THEM CLOSED. AS A BILL THAT WOULD LEGALIZE ABORTION IS AGAIN DEBATED IN THE SENATE, MEDICINES THAT END PREGNANCIES ARE QUIETLY SAVING LIVES. WITH NO INFORMATION ABOUT MARKET PRICES, RURAL FARMERS SAY MIDDLEMEN ARE EXPLOITING THEM AND PAYING TOO LITTLE FOR THEIR PRODUCE. AND LEADING LIBERIAN JUSTICE ADVOCATES CONDEMN THE DECISION TO PRIORI...

SPECIAL INTERVIEW: Lofa County Senator Joseph Jallah on Why He Has Introduced a War Crimes Court Bill to the Legislature Now 03.11.2025 23mnt

In this interview, I speak with Lofa County Senator Joseph Jallah — who along with Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence - has introduced two bills to establish Liberia’s war and economic crimes courts. The bills have surprised the court’s proponents because they have seemingly come out of nowhere and they have some controversial elements that contradict a bill submitted to the legislature in 2021 by Liberian Bar Association. That bill had buy-in from most of the court’s advocates and w...

Protestors Demand Action on Drug Crisis, AID Cuts Hit Entire Economy, Seawall For West Point Set to Begin, and Expert Warns War Crimes Court Security Must Start Now 22.09.2025 28mnt

Coming up in this episode. The country’s drug crisis takes center stage. Citizens march on the capitol demanding action as vigilantes destroy drug dens. The massive cuts to us aid being felt across economy. From street sellers to medium sized businesses the loss of business is hurting. After years of delay a seawall meant to save thousands of homes from being swallowed by the sea in West Point is finally set to begin. As the Office of War and Economic Crimes Court begi...

SPECIAL: Cecil Griffiths, security expert, on the challenges of protecting witnesses and national security during a war crimes court 14.08.2025 24mnt

Welcome to this special edition of Democracy in Focus, a collaboration between New Narratives and Front Page Africa. I’m Anthony Stephens. As plans for Liberia’s war and economic crimes court get underway, we’re running a series of special interviews with Liberian and international experts and stakeholders about how the courts could work. In this interview, I speak with Cecil Griffiths, head of the Liberia National Law Enforcement Association and a key adviser on national security issues. Gri...

Government Suspends Chaotic ID Rollout and Liberia's Forests Face New Threats as Charcoal Production Soars and EcoGuards Resume Hunting 25.07.2025 28mnt

Coming up in this episode. Following a chaotic rollout process, the government indefinitely suspends its compulsory national ID registration program. As climate change causes more and more farms to fail, rural dwellers turn to charcoal production to survive in a renewed threat to Liberia’s forests At the same time, the end of international funding for ecoguards, has forced many back to the forests to hunt renewing threats to biodiversity. Support the show Funding for ...

SPECIAL INTERVIEW: Marvin Tarawally, founder of LiberiaGivingMonth, the new online nonprofit donation platform 23.07.2025 28mnt

Welcome to this special edition of Democracy in Focus, a collaboration between New Narratives and Front Page Africa. I’m Anthony Stephens. It’s not news to anyone that Liberia has been one of the countries most impacted by US President Donald Trump’s cuts to aid. Hundreds of Liberian NGO jobs have been lost. But a new online donation platform called Liberia giving Month hopes to bring donor money directly to Liberian organizations through a few clicks on a phone. I speak with the founde...

SPECIAL INTERVIEW: Retiring U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, Mark Toner 11.07.2025 1j 3mnt

In this special bonus episode of Democracy in Focus, Anthony Stephens has an exclusive interview with Ambassador Mark Toner on his decision to retire just one year into his two year post. Ambassador Toner's announcement came a day before Liberian President Joseph Boakai had a coveted meeting at the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump. Toner denied his decision had anything to do with a special request that the Wall Street Journal alleged was sent to President Boakai before the ...

"Leaders Need to Love People More Than Their Foreign Bank Accounts" - A SPECIAL INTERVIEW With Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Laureate 18.06.2025 38mnt

Welcome to this special edition of Democracy in Focus, a collaboration between New Narratives and Front Page Africa. I’m Anthony Stephens. As plans for Liberia’s war and economic crimes court get underway, we’re running a series of special interviews with Liberian and international experts and stakeholders about how the courts could work. In this interview, I speak with Leymah Gbowee, one of two Liberians who won the Nobel peace prize in 2011. Gbowee has had a huge impact on Liberia’s peace p...

Liberia Wins Seat on UN Security Council; an Interview with Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee, Experts Call for Mental Health Support as War Time Justice Begins, and Pregnant Women Fear the Worst After USAid Cuts 15.06.2025 28mnt

Coming up in this episode. Liberia wins a seat on the un security council. Ambassadors and President Boakai applaud the historic moment. Nobel laureate, Leymah Gbowee urges government to seize the win to drive war time justice beginning with economic crimes. As US aid cuts end a more than $US100 million maternal and infant mortality program, experts and pregnant women fear the worst. Welcome to our program looking at the state of Liberian democracy. It’s a collaboration with...

Special Interview: Rosemary Mbabazi, Rwanda's Ambassador to Liberia, On What the World Can Learn from Rwanda's Journey from Genocide 13.05.2025 18mnt

Welcome to this special edition of Democracy in Focus, a collaboration between New Narratives and Front Page Africa. I’m Anthony Stephens. As plans for Liberia’s war and economic crimes court get underway, we’re running a series of special interviews with Liberian and international experts and stakeholders about how the courts could work. In this interview, I speak with Rwanda’s Ambassador to Liberia, Rosemary Mbabazi after a thirty first anniversary commemoration in Monrovia, of its 1994 gen...

President Quiets Doubters With Big War Crimes Court Budget and A Critical Report Says EPA Failures Cost Liberians a Crucial Weather Warning System 12.05.2025 28mnt

President Boakai quiets doubters with a renewed mandate for the war crimes court office and a big increase in budget to two million dollars As Rwanda commemorates thirty-one years since its genocide, its ambassador says the world can learn from its path to reconciliation and justice. And… a report says a lack of competence and inflated salary claims by the Weah administration stopped the country getting a weather hazard warning system Welcome to our program looking at the state of...

Heart Disease, Stroke and Diabetes Reach Crisis Levels; 3500 USAID teaching scholarships cut and poverty rises in rural Liberia 29.04.2025 28mnt

In this episode..A silent killer is stalking Liberians. Heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other so called non communicable diseases are reaching crisis levels. Experts say awareness campaigns are needed. Thousands of teachers pursuing degrees in education are ejected from us aid- funded scholarships. Experts say Liberia’s school children will lose out again. And.. as the World Bank reports that poverty in rural Liberia has risen to 4 in every 5 people, experts warn the same ineq...