BARKEDU, LOFA COUNTY – A five-man delegation from the Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia (OWECC-L) on July 5, visited the Barkedu Massacre Site in Lofa County, as part of preparations for the nationwide campaign to establish the court.
Speaking during an engagement with residents, Mr. Parker Barcolleh, representing the Executive Director, Dr. Cllr. Jallah A. Barbu, extended greetings from the ED and announced that Dr. Barbu will personally attend the July 12, 2025 memorial service in Barkedu.
Mr. Barcolleh emphasized that the visit was part of a larger mission aimed at assessing the site and strengthening the path toward justice and accountability for victims of the civil war. He noted that OWECC-L’s process is inclusive, ensuring survivors’ voices are central and that their suffering will not be in vain.
Town Chief of Barkedu, Mr. Musah Sesay, welcomed the delegation and described past efforts to mark the tragic day, which have been mostly informal. He credited Mr. Blama Dukuly—a son of the town—for organizing small commemorations that often-included rice, water, and prayers.
Chief Sesay recounted the horrors of July 12, 1990, when fighters from the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) summoned Barkedu residents to a meeting in a hall during a rainstorm. Though the townspeople welcomed the soldiers with cash and a cow, they were ultimately trapped and massacred. Between 250 to 300 people perished in the attack.
Township Commissioner, Mr. Kermoh Kanneh, who was just 12 years old when he lost his father in the massacre, expressed strong support for OWECC-L’s visit and called for accountability. He acknowledged the ongoing psychosocial trauma among survivors and asserted that some perpetrators are still identifiable.
Plans for Memorialization
Local leaders proposed transforming the massacre site into a historical landmark. Commissioner Kanneh emphasized that all budgetary decisions made were done in consultation with the people of Barkedu, which is an hour from the Guinean border. Barkedu comprises of 21 towns and villages, with a population of 9,378.
Following the meeting, the delegation toured the massacre hall and nearby mass grave with community members. The official memorial program is slated for 10:00 AM on July 12, 2025, at the town’s palaver hut—a day Barkedu residents have vowed to honor as a local holiday.
