Samuel Doe

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch describe a recurring pattern under Doe of torture, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detention, unfair trials and severe restrictions on freedom of expression and association.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Command responsibility

After the NPFL incursion into Nimba, the Armed Forces of Liberia responded with an indiscriminate campaign against civilians, mainly Gio and Mano: killings, burning of villages, rape and looting. More than 160,000 people rapidly fled to neighbouring countries.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Command responsibility

Human Rights Watch reported that in May masked soldiers attacked a United Nations compound and abducted approximately forty refugees, some of whose bodies were subsequently found. In June, soldiers also opened fire on unarmed protesters demanding Doe's departure.

State of the evidence

Documented

Government soldiers massacred approximately 600 people sheltering in St Peter's Lutheran Church, mainly Gio and Mano, including many women and children. Human Rights Watch describes the episode as one of the worst atrocities of the civil war.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Command responsibility

After the failure of Thomas Quiwonkpa's attempted coup, the Krahn-dominated army carried out bloody reprisals against actual or suspected opponents, particularly Gio and Mano people. Hundreds were killed and others detained without charge.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Command responsibility

Elections intended to restore civilian government were marred by serious irregularities. Human Rights Watch describes Doe using fraud and coercion to secure victory, while ballot papers were found burned and American observers and officials criticised the vote.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Amnesty International documented, notably, the detention and ill-treatment of journalist Willis Knuckles and detention without charge of journalist Rufus Darpoh, against a broader background of press control.

State of the evidence

Documented

Four soldiers were executed by firing squad after reportedly confessing, according to authorities, to participating in a fatal armed robbery during a military investigation described by Amnesty International as hurried.

State of the evidence

Documented

Fourteen junior soldiers were arrested over an alleged plot. Thirteen were sentenced to death after a summary trial without defence lawyers; Amnesty International reported that they were subsequently believed to have been secretly executed at the Post Stockade.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Person targeted by the proceedings

thirteen soldiers

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Doe accused his vice-president Thomas Weh Syen and four other members of the People's Redemption Council of plotting to assassinate him. Following rapid military proceedings, all five were sentenced to death and executed the following day.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Samuel Doe led the coup that overthrew President William Tolbert, who was killed during the seizure of power. The People's Redemption Council took control of Liberia.

State of the evidence

Well documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Shortly after the coup, Doe ordered the execution of thirteen former senior Tolbert government officials without a regular trial. The episode became emblematic of the violence with which the new regime was established.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility