Gambiaj.com – (MONROVIA, Liberia) – Prince Johnson, a polarizing figure in Liberia’s turbulent history, died on Thursday at the age of 72, officials confirmed. Johnson, a former warlord who played a central role in the country’s brutal civil wars from 1989 to 2003, passed away at the Hope for Women health clinic in Monrovia.

Siaffa Jallah, deputy director of press at the Liberian Senate, described him as “the longest-serving senator.” Wilfred Bangura, a senior official in Johnson’s Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) party, also confirmed his death to AFP.

A Legacy of Violence and Controversy

Johnson’s infamy stems from his role in Liberia’s first civil war, where he led a faction of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) before breaking away to form the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL).

He became internationally notorious in 1990 after a gruesome video showed him sipping beer as fighters loyal to him tortured and killed then-President Samuel Doe.

The killing of Doe, which Johnson justified as retaliation for atrocities under Doe’s regime, marked a turning point in Liberia’s descent into chaos.

Over the next 14 years, two civil wars claimed the lives of approximately 250,000 people, devastated the economy, and left scars on the nation’s psyche.

From Warlord to Preacher

Hailing from Nimba County in northern Liberia, Johnson fled to Nigeria in 1992 amid rising tensions with Charles Taylor, his former ally and later Liberia’s president. Taylor would eventually be convicted of crimes against humanity by an international court.

During his 12-year exile, Johnson reinvented himself as an evangelical preacher. When he returned to Liberia in 2004, he called for peace and reconciliation but never expressed remorse for his wartime actions.

“I cannot be sued. I have done nothing criminal,” he said during a presidential bid in 2011. “I fought to defend my country, my people who were led to the slaughterhouse, as if they were chickens and goats, by the Doe regime.”

A Contentious Political Career

Prince Johnson’s post-war political career was as contentious as his past. He was first elected senator in 2005 and retained his seat for nearly two decades, gaining widespread support in Nimba County. Despite his warlord past, he positioned himself as a populist leader.

In the 2011 presidential election, Johnson placed third, garnering 11.4% of the vote. His performance in the 2017 election was also notable, as he secured over 8% in the first round before endorsing George Weah, who went on to win the presidency.

In 2023, Johnson switched alliances, backing Joseph Boakai, who narrowly won the presidency with 50.6% of the vote. Johnson successfully negotiated the vice presidency for his protégé and relative, Jeremiah Koung, solidifying his political influence even in his final months.

Shifting Stance on Justice

Johnson was a vocal opponent of establishing a war crimes tribunal to address Liberia’s civil war atrocities. While he initially resisted calls for justice, he appeared to soften his stance in April 2023, endorsing a parliamentary resolution supporting such a tribunal. However, he quickly reversed his position, calling it “trouble for the country.”

Prince Johnson leaves behind 12 children and a deeply divided legacy. To his supporters, he was a champion of Nimba County and a symbol of resilience. To his critics, he was a warlord who evaded justice and manipulated Liberia’s political system for personal gain.

As Liberia continues to grapple with the scars of its past, Johnson’s death marks the end of an era for one of its most controversial figures.