Local Voices Liberia

Fact Check: Did Pres. Boakai Mention War & Economic Crimes Court in the 2026 SONA?

In Summary:
  • Former Nimba County Lawmaker, Gonpue L. Kargon claims that President Joseph Boakai did not mention the establishment of the War Crime Court in his 2026 SONA
  • We fact-checked his assertion by reviewing the President’s speech and found his claim to be incorrect

Hours after President Joseph Boakai’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered on January 28, former Nimba County District #4 lawmaker, Rep. Gonpue L. Kargon, claimed in a Facebook post that the President made no mention of a War and Economic Crimes Court in his address to the Legislature.

Rep. Kargon reechoed the same statement during a live appearance via telephone on the Voices From Nimba TV – a social media platform in the county.

He argued that the widely publicized establishment of the “War and Economic Crimes Court was only meant for the late Senator Prince Y. Johnson” who died several months ago.

The Claim

Portion of Rep. Kargon’s post reads:  “In the president’s first Annual message, he promised that the war and Economic crimes court would be a top priority, but in today’s speech there was no mention of it at all.”


The former Nimba County lawmaker shared the Facebook post along with a photo of he and the late Senator Prince Y. Johnson. The post was made following President Boakai’s SONA address

Rating Justification

To verify whether or not President Boakai made mention of the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes court, we read through President Boakai’s third State of the Nation Address.

Under a section of the speech titled “Reconciliation,” the President stated that his administration is considering the establishment of a Reconciliation Commission and has already set up the Office for the War and Economic Crimes Court, which has completed draft legislation for legislative review.


Screenshot of an excerpt from the Pres’ SONA stated that his administration “has already set up the Office for the War and Economic Crimes Court.”

Conclusion

Based on this finding, we conclude that Rep. Gonpue L. Kargon’s claim that President Boakai did not mention the War and Economic Crimes Court during his third State of the Nation Address is incorrect.

Under a section of the speech titled “Reconciliation,” the President stated that his administration is considering the establishment of a Reconciliation Commission and has already set up the Office for the War and Economic Crimes Court, which has completed draft legislation for legislative review.


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