Subscribe Donate

Thomas Woewiyu

Thomas Woewiyu founded the NPFL with Charles Taylor and served as Spokesman and Defence Minister. Following political dissonance, he created and led the NPFL-CRC during Liberia’s First Civil War (1989-1996).

Trial monitoring

Thomas Woewiyu founded the NPFL with Charles Taylor and served as Spokesman and Defence Minister. Following political dissonance, he created and led the NPFL-CRC during Liberia’s First Civil War (1989-1996).

In May 2014, upon his return from a trip to Liberia, Woewiyu was arrested at the Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, U.S. He was charged with 2 counts of attempted fraud to obtain citizenship, 4 counts of immigration documents fraud, 3 counts of making false statements in relation to naturalization, and 7 counts of perjury.

Mr. Woewiyu’s trial began on 11th of June 2018. Over 35 witnesses testified to his direct and indirect involvement in war crimes during the civil war. After 13 days in court, the jury found Mr. Woewiyu guilty on 11 of 16 counts on July 3, 2018, exposing him to a maximum prison term of 75 years.

However, Mr. Woewiyu passed away on April 12, 2020, of COVID-19, in Philadelphia, US while he was still awaiting his sentencing hearing.

Civitas Maxima and its Liberian sister organization, the Global Justice and Research Project (GJRP) assisted the U.S. authorities during the investigation.

Role Spokesman and Defence Minister of the rebel group NPFL
Nationality Liberian
Period of activity First Liberian Civil War (1989-1996)
Place of proceedings  Philadelphia, United States
Indictment Immigration Fraud
Status The case is closed as M. Woewiyu passed away in 2020 while awaiting sentencing following his conviction in 2018.
Direct legal impact of the case

This trial was the first time – and, so far, the only time – that a former member of the NPFL was found guilty in a criminal trial.

Press releases

Press releases

Thomas Woewiyu dies of COVID-19 whilst awaiting sentencing

Thomas Jucontee Woewiyu, former Minister of Defense and Spokesman of the NPFL during the First Liberian Civil War, died yesterday, April 12, of COVID-19 after a week of treatment at the Bryn Mawr Hospital in Philadelphia, U.S.