Prince Johnson
Encyclopedia
Prince Yormie Johnson is a Liberia
n politician and the current Senior Senator
from Nimba County
."Prince" is a common given name
for males in Liberia, rather than a royal title. A former rebel leader, Johnson played a prominent figure in the First Liberian Civil War, most notably capturing and executing President Samuel Doe
.
, in the east-central interior of the country, and was brought up by an uncle in Monrovia. While living in Monrovia, in 1971, he joined the Liberian National Guard (LNG) which was transformed into the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) in the aftermath of the 1980 coup since when his life became that of the barracks. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant, and benefited from military training in Liberia and United States. Johnson had been trained in military police duties in South Carolina, USA." He was a stern, often draconian, disciplinarian.(http://www.thenewdawnliberia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3008:pyj-i-regret-the-war&catid=25:politics&Itemid=59)
He served as aide-de-camp
to Thomas Quiwonkpa
, the Commanding General of the Armed Forces of Liberia
. Johnson fled into exile with Quiwonkpa in 1983.
Johnson later allied with Charles Taylor as part of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia
(NPFL), which crossed the border from Côte d'Ivoire
and began operations in Liberia on Christmas Eve
, 1989. However, an internal power struggle resulted in Prince Johnson breaking off from the Taylor-led NPFL and forming the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia
(INPFL). Despite intervention in the civil war by the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
(ECOMOG), INPFL forces captured most of the capital, Monrovia
, in the late summer of 1990.
During the civil war, Johnson was notorious for killing anyone who showed opposition or criticized his actions. When Hare Krishna devotees, who were distributing food to starving people in Monrovia in the midst of the chaos of the civil war, sent him a letter begging him to stop killing people, he personally orchestrated the execution of Hladini devi dasi, born Linda Jury, and five of her students, on the bank of the St Paul River on the night of Thursday, 13 September 1990.
In September 1990, Johnson's supporters abducted President Samuel Doe
from the ECOMOG headquarters, the Freeport of Monrovia
. Doe was tortured and executed in Johnson's custody on September 9, with the spectacle videotaped and broadcast around the world. The video showed Johnson sipping a Budweiser
as his men cut off Doe's ear. Johnson later denied killing Doe. Ahmadou Kourouma
(who depicted Doe's assassination in his novel Allah is not Obliged) also accused Prince Johnson of war crimes in the form of abducting and torturing several Firestone
executives.
Shortly after Doe's death, Johnson briefly claimed the presidency of Liberia, though his claims ended following the consolidation of rebel power under Taylor. In an attempt by the weak national government to reconstruct Liberian politics, the INPFL was recognized at a conference held in Guinea
, where Amos Sawyer
was elected president. However, Johnson was forced to flee to Nigeria
in fear of rebel forces supporting Taylor and was uninvolved in the Second Liberian Civil War
.
While in Nigeria, Johnson became a Christian and reconciled with the Doe family through the intervention of the controversial Nigerian 'prophet' T.B. Joshua
.
Johnson returned to Liberia in March 2004 following the resignation of Taylor as president and the installation of a transitional government. He stated his intention to return to politics, though he briefly left Liberia again on 7 April due to death threats he had received from the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy
(LURD) rebel group. In the 2005 general elections
, Johnson contested and won a Senate seat representing Nimba County. For a period he served as the chair of the Senate's defense committee.
In the June 2009 final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
, which was established as part of the 2003 peace deal, the TRC recommended Johnson in a list of 50 names of people that should be "specifically barred from holding public offices; elected or appointed for a period of thirty (30) years" for "being associated with former warring factions." Johnson labelled the recommendation a "joke," noting several other combatants absent from the recommendation, and vowed to resist any charges brought as a result of the report. In January 2011, the Supreme Court
ruled in Williams v. Tah, a case brought by another person recommended for being banned from public office in the TRC report, that the TRC's recommendation was an unconstitutional violation of the listed individuals' right to procedural due process, and that it would be unconstitutional for the government to implement the proposed bans.
In 2010, he announced his intention to run for president in the 2011 presidential election
.
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
n politician and the current Senior Senator
Senate of Liberia
The Senate of Liberia is the upper house of the bicameral legislative branch of Liberia, and together with the House of Representatives comprises the Legislature of Liberia...
from Nimba County
Nimba County
Nimba is a county in the north-central portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has six districts. Sanniquellie serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring , the largest in the nation...
."Prince" is a common given name
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
for males in Liberia, rather than a royal title. A former rebel leader, Johnson played a prominent figure in the First Liberian Civil War, most notably capturing and executing President Samuel Doe
Samuel Doe
Samuel Kanyon Doe was the 21st President of Liberia, serving from 1986 until his assassination in 1990. He had previously served as Chairman of the People's Redemption Council from 1980 to 1986. He was the first indigenous head of state in Liberian history.Doe was a part of a rural tribe in inland...
.
Biography
Johnson was born in Nimba CountyNimba County
Nimba is a county in the north-central portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has six districts. Sanniquellie serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring , the largest in the nation...
, in the east-central interior of the country, and was brought up by an uncle in Monrovia. While living in Monrovia, in 1971, he joined the Liberian National Guard (LNG) which was transformed into the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) in the aftermath of the 1980 coup since when his life became that of the barracks. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant, and benefited from military training in Liberia and United States. Johnson had been trained in military police duties in South Carolina, USA." He was a stern, often draconian, disciplinarian.(http://www.thenewdawnliberia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3008:pyj-i-regret-the-war&catid=25:politics&Itemid=59)
He served as aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Thomas Quiwonkpa
Thomas Quiwonkpa
Thomas Quiwonkpa, a Gio from Nimba County, was a Commanding General of the Armed Forces of Liberia and founder of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia....
, the Commanding General of the Armed Forces of Liberia
Armed Forces of Liberia
The Armed Forces of Liberia are the armed forces of the Republic of Liberia. Founded as the Liberian Frontier Force in 1908, the military was retitled in 1956. For virtually all of its history, the AFL has received considerable materiel and training assistance from the United States. For most of...
. Johnson fled into exile with Quiwonkpa in 1983.
Johnson later allied with Charles Taylor as part of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia
National Patriotic Front of Liberia
The National Patriotic Front of Liberia was a rebel group that initiated and participated in the First Liberian Civil War from 1989 to 1996.-Leadership:...
(NPFL), which crossed the border from Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
and began operations in Liberia on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
, 1989. However, an internal power struggle resulted in Prince Johnson breaking off from the Taylor-led NPFL and forming the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia
Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia
The Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia was a rebel group that participated in the First Liberian Civil War under the leadership of Prince Johnson...
(INPFL). Despite intervention in the civil war by the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
The Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group, or ECOMOG, was a West African multilateral armed force established by the Economic Community of West African States . ECOMOG was a formal arrangement for separate armies to work together...
(ECOMOG), INPFL forces captured most of the capital, Monrovia
Monrovia
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
, in the late summer of 1990.
During the civil war, Johnson was notorious for killing anyone who showed opposition or criticized his actions. When Hare Krishna devotees, who were distributing food to starving people in Monrovia in the midst of the chaos of the civil war, sent him a letter begging him to stop killing people, he personally orchestrated the execution of Hladini devi dasi, born Linda Jury, and five of her students, on the bank of the St Paul River on the night of Thursday, 13 September 1990.
In September 1990, Johnson's supporters abducted President Samuel Doe
Samuel Doe
Samuel Kanyon Doe was the 21st President of Liberia, serving from 1986 until his assassination in 1990. He had previously served as Chairman of the People's Redemption Council from 1980 to 1986. He was the first indigenous head of state in Liberian history.Doe was a part of a rural tribe in inland...
from the ECOMOG headquarters, the Freeport of Monrovia
Freeport of Monrovia
Freeport of Monrovia is the main commercial port facility in the West African nation of Liberia. The port was artificially created on Bushrod Island near Monrovia in 1948. The port facility contains four piers and one main wharf with four berths. The port also has tanker facilities and a fishery...
. Doe was tortured and executed in Johnson's custody on September 9, with the spectacle videotaped and broadcast around the world. The video showed Johnson sipping a Budweiser
Budweiser
Budweiser is a German adjective describing something or someone from the city of České Budějovice in Southern Bohemia, Czech Republic.Beer brewing in České Budějovice dates back to the 13th century...
as his men cut off Doe's ear. Johnson later denied killing Doe. Ahmadou Kourouma
Ahmadou Kourouma
Ahmadou Kourouma was an Ivorian novelist.-Life:The eldest son of a distinguished Malinké family, Ahmadou Kourouma was born in 1927 in Côte d'Ivoire. Raised by his uncle, he initially pursued studies in Bamako, Mali...
(who depicted Doe's assassination in his novel Allah is not Obliged) also accused Prince Johnson of war crimes in the form of abducting and torturing several Firestone
Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company is an American tire company founded by Harvey Firestone in 1900 to supply pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era. Firestone soon saw the huge potential for marketing tires for automobiles. The company...
executives.
Shortly after Doe's death, Johnson briefly claimed the presidency of Liberia, though his claims ended following the consolidation of rebel power under Taylor. In an attempt by the weak national government to reconstruct Liberian politics, the INPFL was recognized at a conference held in Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, where Amos Sawyer
Amos Sawyer
Dr. Amos Claudius Sawyer was the President of the Interim Government of National Unity in Liberia . Sawyer was born to Abel Sawyer and Sarah Sawyer in 1945, of Sarpo ethnicity; his siblings include Joe Sawyer; the Sawyers were a prominent family in Sinoe County...
was elected president. However, Johnson was forced to flee to Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
in fear of rebel forces supporting Taylor and was uninvolved in the Second Liberian Civil War
Second Liberian Civil War
The Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when a rebel group backed by the government of neighbouring Guinea, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy , emerged in northern Liberia. In early 2003, a second rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia, emerged in the south, and...
.
While in Nigeria, Johnson became a Christian and reconciled with the Doe family through the intervention of the controversial Nigerian 'prophet' T.B. Joshua
T.B. Joshua
Temitope Balogun Joshua , commonly referred to as T. B. Joshua, is a Christian, minister, televangelist and faith healer...
.
Johnson returned to Liberia in March 2004 following the resignation of Taylor as president and the installation of a transitional government. He stated his intention to return to politics, though he briefly left Liberia again on 7 April due to death threats he had received from the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy
Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy
The Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy was a rebel group in Liberia that was active from 1999 until after the peace accords that ended the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003...
(LURD) rebel group. In the 2005 general elections
Liberian elections, 2005
The 2005 Liberian general election was held on 11 October 2005, with a runoff election for the presidency held on 8 November of that year. The presidency, as well as all seats in the House of Representatives and Senate were up for election. The election marked the end of the political transition...
, Johnson contested and won a Senate seat representing Nimba County. For a period he served as the chair of the Senate's defense committee.
In the June 2009 final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Liberia)
The Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission is a Parliament-enacted organization created in May 2005 under Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.Its mandate is to "promote national peace, security, unity and reconciliation" by investigating more than 20 years of civil conflict in the country and to report on...
, which was established as part of the 2003 peace deal, the TRC recommended Johnson in a list of 50 names of people that should be "specifically barred from holding public offices; elected or appointed for a period of thirty (30) years" for "being associated with former warring factions." Johnson labelled the recommendation a "joke," noting several other combatants absent from the recommendation, and vowed to resist any charges brought as a result of the report. In January 2011, the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Liberia
The Supreme Court of Liberia is the highest judicial body in the West African nation of Liberia. The court consists of the Chief Justice of Liberia and four Associate Justices, who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate...
ruled in Williams v. Tah, a case brought by another person recommended for being banned from public office in the TRC report, that the TRC's recommendation was an unconstitutional violation of the listed individuals' right to procedural due process, and that it would be unconstitutional for the government to implement the proposed bans.
In 2010, he announced his intention to run for president in the 2011 presidential election
Liberian general election, 2011
The 2011 Liberian general election was held on 11 October 2011, with a presidential runoff election held on 8 November 2011. The presidency, as well as all seats in the House of Representatives and half of the seats in the Senate, were up for election...
.
Further reading
- Stephan Ellis, ‘The Mask of Anarchy: The Destruction of Liberia and the Religious Dimension of an African Civil War’, Hurst & Company, London, 2001 - Introduction 'A Death in the Night' has an excellent account of Doe's death.