Former Liberian warlord Prince Johnson, who was infamously involved in the execution of former president Samuel Doe during the country’s civil wars, has passed away at the age of 72. Johnson later transitioned into a political role, serving as a senator and becoming a significant political influencer.
Family member Moses Ziah confirmed to africa24hrs on Thursday that Johnson died earlier in the day. Family spokesperson Wilfred Bangura also noted that Johnson had been suffering from high blood pressure prior to his death.
The civil wars in Liberia, which lasted from 1989 to 2003, resulted in the deaths of over 200,000 individuals, with countless others subjected to violence and displacement. Johnson was a prominent figure during this tumultuous period.
He gained notoriety when his forces captured and brutally executed former president Doe, an event that was captured in a notorious 1990 video showing Johnson celebrating the act with his fighters.
Although Johnson later expressed remorse for Doe’s murder and sought to reconcile with his family, he was named by Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission as someone recommended for prosecution for war crimes, including acts of rape and murder. However, he was never brought to trial.
Following the conflict, Johnson remained active in politics, winning a senatorial seat in his stronghold of Nimba County in 2006. He played a pivotal role in several presidential elections, initially supporting former president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in 2011 and later endorsing George Weah in the 2017 run-off against Sirleaf’s successor, Joseph Boakai. In a surprising turn, he backed Boakai in the 2023 election, where Boakai ultimately triumphed over Weah in the run-off.
Prince Johnson Liberian warlord during the civil war.
