Former Liberian Warlord and Long-Serving Senator Prince Johnson Passes Away
A significant figure in Liberia’s tumultuous past, Prince Johnson, a former warlord, has died at the age of 72. Officials from his political party and the Senate have confirmed his passing on Thursday.
Johnson’s reign of terror began in 1990, when a video emerged showing him imbibing beer as his fighters brutalized and killed President Samuel Doe. This disturbing incident marked a turning point in Liberia’s devastating civil conflicts, which ultimately claimed the lives of approximately 250,000 people and left the nation’s economy in shambles.
A Complex Legacy
Siaffa Jallah, the Senate’s Deputy Director of Press, described Johnson as the “longest-serving senator.” Wilfred Bangura, a senior member of Johnson’s Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction party, confirmed his passing to Agence France-Presse, stating, “Yes, we lost him this morning. He passed away at the Hope for Women health center.”
Originally from Nimba County in northern Liberia, Johnson later rebranded himself as an evangelical preacher, earning significant local support. Despite his notorious past, he remained a powerful political figure, strongly opposing the creation of a war crimes tribunal to investigate atrocities committed during the conflicts.
Johnson’s lasting impact is a reflection of both his controversial role in Liberia’s history and his enduring political influence. His legacy remains a heated topic of discussion, with differing opinions on his place in the country’s complex narrative.
