Post-Conflict Research Consultants

07/05/2026

Honestly, it is painful to watch incidents like this happen in our society. A woman was reportedly surrounded, violated, and sexually assaulted by a crowd because people felt she was “underdressed.” Instead of everyone condemning what happened to her, some people immediately began defending the act by focusing on her clothing. That alone says a lot about where we are as a society.

We do not all have to agree on culture, fashion, or morality, but we should all agree that no human being deserves to be humiliated, assaulted, or abused in public. Violence should never become a form of “correction.”

What also troubles many people is the seeming imbalance in response. We often see strong and immediate police action during protests or demonstrations, yet when vulnerable people are attacked by mobs, the same urgency does not always appear visible. Whether intentional or not, that perception can weaken public trust and leave citizens feeling unprotected.

For countries healing from conflict and division, moments like these matter deeply. Peacebuilding is not only about ending war. It is also about building a culture where human dignity is protected, where disagreements do not become violence, and where citizens feel equally valued under the law.

This should not become another moment of online insults and division. It should be a moment for reflection. What kind of society are we creating if public humiliation and mob behavior become normalized? What message are we sending to women, young people, and future generations?

We can hold onto our cultural values while still protecting human dignity. Those things should never be in conflict. Humanity, restraint, and accountability must always come first.

18/04/2026

Three Cases, One Question: What Direction Is Liberia’s Democracy Taking?

Liberia today is not being tested by one controversy, but by a pattern.
The cases of Representative Yekeh Kolubah, former Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, and social media personality Prophet Key may appear unrelated on the surface. One involves legislative expulsion, another a political and criminal battle, and the third a contempt ruling by the Supreme Court. But taken together, they raise a deeper and more important question:

Are Liberia’s institutions acting as neutral guardians of the Constitution, or as protectors of their own power? That is the question the public must now confront.

The Kolubah Case: Representation vs Discipline

When an elected lawmaker is expelled, the issue is never just about that individual. It is about the people who sent him there. The Constitution allows the Legislature to discipline its members, even to expel them for cause. But that power is not unlimited. It must follow due process, and it must respect the rule of law ; including court orders.

Reports that the House proceeded with expulsion while a matter was still before the Supreme Court have raised serious concerns. If true, it suggests a troubling willingness to act first and sort out legality later.

At stake is not just Kolubah’s seat. It is whether the Legislature can discipline its own without undermining constitutional safeguards.

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The Koffa Matter: Power, Procedure, and Prosecution

The struggle over the speakership and the subsequent criminal case against J. Fonati Koffa highlight another dimension of institutional stress.

On one hand, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that legislative actions must follow constitutional procedure. That was a necessary reminder that political majorities cannot override the rules simply because they have the numbers.

On the other hand, the criminal case tied to the Capitol fire places the justice system under a different kind of scrutiny. The question here is not whether accountability should exist; it must, but whether it is being pursued through credible evidence, fair process, and without political influence.

In a democracy, the law must be strong enough to hold leaders accountable, but disciplined enough to avoid becoming a tool of political combat.

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The Prophet Key Case: Speech vs Authority

The jailing of Prophet Key brings the Judiciary itself into focus.

There is no doubt that his language was offensive. Many Liberians have said so openly. But the real issue is not taste, it is law.

Liberia’s Constitution protects freedom of expression while allowing responsibility for abuse. The challenge lies in determining when speech crosses the line into punishable conduct, especially when contempt powers are involved.

When speech leads to imprisonment, the public naturally asks:
Was this about protecting the administration of justice — or protecting the dignity of those in power?

That distinction matters.

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The Common Thread: Consistency and Restraint

What connects these three cases is not the individuals, but the response of institutions to perceived threats.

* The Legislature disciplining one of its own
* The political system confronting internal leadership conflict
* The Judiciary responding to public insult

In each case, power was exercised. The real issue is how.

Democracy does not collapse overnight. It erodes gradually when institutions begin to act inconsistently, when rules appear flexible depending on who is involved, and when citizens start to believe that outcomes are shaped more by power than by principle.

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Why This Moment Matters

Liberians are not just reacting to events, they are interpreting patterns.
If offensive speech is punished only when it targets certain institutions, questions of fairness arise.
If legislative discipline appears selective or rushed, questions of motive arise.
If criminal prosecutions intersect with political conflict, questions of independence arise.

These perceptions, whether fully accurate or not, carry real consequences. Public trust is not built on outcomes alone; it is built on credibility.

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The Way Forward

Liberia does not need less authority in its institutions. It needs better disciplined authority.

The Legislature must ensure that its internal actions are transparent, lawful, and consistent.
The Judiciary must exercise its powers with restraint and clear constitutional grounding.
The justice system must pursue accountability without fear or favor.

Above all, the same standard must apply to everyone — whether a lawmaker, a former speaker, or a controversial media figure.

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Final Thought

The true test of a democracy is not how it treats its friends, but how it treats its critics, its opponents, and even those who offend.

The Kolubah, Koffa, and Prophet Key cases are not just legal matters. They are signals. They are telling us something about the direction of governance in Liberia.

The question is whether we are prepared to listen, and to insist that the Constitution remains the final authority over all.

Because in the end, it is not individuals who define the Republic. It is the integrity of its institutions.

09/04/2026

Liberia’s coastlines are under threat.
Beach sand mining is accelerating erosion and putting entire communities at risk.
This is not just environmental—it’s survival.

Speak up. Share this. Demand protection. 🇱🇷🌊

15/02/2026

Let us speak honestly as Liberians.

The controversy surrounding Prophet Key is not really about whether his language was offensive. That fact is hardly disputed. His style, rhetoric, and choice of words have been public knowledge for years. He has insulted presidents, government officials, public figures, and ordinary citizens alike; often in language many considered distasteful, yet no criminal consequences followed.

Why then does imprisonment suddenly become the answer only when the target is a member of the Supreme Court? This is where the discomfort lies for many citizens. Not in defending vulgarity, but in questioning consistency.

The rule of law cannot appear to move with personalities. Justice must not look personal. When similar conduct is tolerated for years but triggers severe punishment only after offending the judiciary itself, an unavoidable perception arises, whether intended or not, of wounded pride rather than neutral principle.

Courts, of all institutions, must be especially vigilant about appearances. Public confidence in the judiciary depends not merely on authority, but on the belief that standards are applied evenly, without fear, favor, emotion, or retaliation. No citizen should be above the law. That is true. However, equally important, no institution should appear to stand above scrutiny or criticism simply because it wields power.

Freedom of expression under our Constitution was never designed only for polite speech. It exists precisely to protect uncomfortable, irritating, and even offensive commentary, except in the narrowest of circumstances defined by law. If harsh rhetoric alone becomes grounds for incarceration, then the boundaries of liberty become uncertain for everyone.

If Prophet Key’s conduct warranted sanction, consistency demands a larger question:
Where was this standard when others were insulted?
Where is the clear line separating contempt from criticism?
And how do we ensure that justice is not only done, but seen to be done?

Selective enforcement, even when legally framed, carries dangerous consequences. It erodes trust. It fuels suspicion. It weakens institutions rather than strengthening them.
Liberia’s democracy is resilient, but it is also fragile. The legitimacy of our courts is best protected not by severity alone, but by fairness, clarity, and equal application of principle.

Justice must never look like revenge.
Law must never look like pride. Power must never look selective. That is the conversation worth having.

22/01/2022

Empire of Rubber: Firestone’s Scramble for Land and Power in Liberia is a fascinating and enlightening page-turner that uncovers Liberia’s often overlooked importance in U.S. history.

A new book on Firestone Liberia highlights the stark choices faced by countries where capital is in short supply.

11/02/2020

Welcome to the PCRC. As part of our commitment to implementing and supporting unconventional and innovative approaches to peacebuilding, we will be utilizing this space to highlight noteworthy developments relevant to our work. Our page will discuss everything from innovations in peacebuilding to personal stories from the field to our own organizational achievements and milestones.

We will draw on our extensive network of researchers, activists, journalists and photographers to give our readers fresh insight into the ever-evolving world of peacebuilding. Our goal is to provide a holistic picture of our field, the challenges peacebuilders face, and the victories that make those challenges worth it.

09/02/2020

were on hand at the dedication of the memorial of the Du-Port Road - Waterside site of massacre and mass grave. This location is one of two massacre locales on the Du-Port road; the second being the Du-Port Road - Cowfield location. Multiple massacres occurred at the cowfield site. Victims homes were set ablaze while they were inside.

06/02/2020

Sites of Massacres research, GPS tags, and GIS maps leading to the construction of memorials for survivors and families of victims of massacres to experience some form of closure by at least having a place to lay wreaths and honor their dead.

Authority at the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR), with support from its international partners, says the Commission will this year embark on the construction of several memo…