Liberian Ex-Warlord and Senator Prince Johnson Dies at 72

Prince Johnson, notorious for his role in Liberia's civil wars and later a prominent political figure, dies without facing trial for alleged war crimes.

Prince Johnson, a former Liberian warlord infamous for torturing President Samuel Doe in 1990 while drinking beer on camera, has died at the age of 72 in Monrovia.
Johnson played a significant role in Liberia's civil wars from 1989 to 2003, which left an estimated 250,000 people dead and countless others traumatized by mass killings, sexual violence, and torture.
Despite being named as one of the 'most notorious perpetrators' by Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Johnson was never tried for war crimes, unlike some of his contemporaries who were convicted abroad.
After the war, Johnson became a born-again Christian, a preacher, and a senator representing Nimba County, where he remained a controversial yet influential political figure until his death.
Liberian human rights advocates expressed disappointment that Johnson died before the country’s proposed war crimes tribunal could begin operations, leaving numerous victims without justice.