Liberia’s foreign affairs ministry Wednesday announced the appointment of Dr. Aaron Weah, a distinguished Liberian academic and transitional justice expert, to the African Union Committee of Experts on Reparations (AUCER).
The AUCER’s mandate, as defined by Assembly of Heads of State and Government Decision 847(XXXVI), is “to develop an African common position on reparations, and incorporate therein, an African Reparatory Programme of Action.”
The body will work collaboratively with member states, regional blocs, experts, and civil society organisations to forge a unified African approach to addressing historical injustices, colonial harms, and other systemic violations suffered across the continent.
Dr. Weah’s appointment into the body represents a significant milestone for Liberia as the nation continues to contribute meaningfully to continental policymaking on justice, accountability, and historical redress, said a statement by Mme. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, foreign affairs minister.
She expressed a sense of pride in nominating Dr. Weah on behalf of the government and stated her confidence in him being a strong ambassador to bring Liberia’s historical journey to the African narrative and to demonstrate its credibility in raising the need for reparations fr the continent.
Mme. Nyanti lauded the appointment as “a moment of opportunity for Liberia to share its experience in transitional justice and challenges with reparations; and to contribute expertise to the African Union’s reparations campaign.”
Minister Nyanti further emphasised that Liberia’s participation at this level signifies the country’s growing leadership in global and continental conversations on justice, accountability, and reconciliation. She urged him to effectively represent Liberia’s perspectives on Pan-Africanism and leverage economic diplomacy as a tool for strengthening the country’s influence within the African Union.
In response to his appointment, Dr. Weah reaffirmed his commitment to advancing Africa’s reparations agenda with professionalism, scholarship, and integrity and pledged to work collaboratively with fellow experts to develop a robust and inclusive framework that reflects the aspirations of African peoples and diaspora communities.
With more than eighteen years of experience in civil society, government, and international non-governmental organizations, Dr. Weah brings a wealth of knowledge to the AUCER.
He has worked extensively on transitional justice issues in both Liberia and The Gambia, contributing to national and regional dialogues on accountability and post-conflict recovery.
In 2023, he was part of an international delegation of scholars and practitioners that convened in Accra, Ghana to advance a unified position on justice and reparations for Africa and the Black African Diaspora.
Dr. Weah currently serves as the Director of the Ducor Institute for Social and Economic Research, a Liberia-based think tank focused on evidence-driven public policy and social research. He also lectures at the University of Liberia and the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, mentoring the next generation of scholars, diplomats, and public servants.
His scholarly contributions include publications in reputable journals such as the Oxford University Press International Journal of Transitional Justice. He is also the co-publisher of Impunity Under Attack: The Evolution and Imperatives of the Liberian Truth Commission (2008), a seminal work that underscores his deep engagement with Liberia’s post-conflict justice processes.
WN/as/APA