Liberian President Joseph Boakai signed a decree establishing a war and economic crimes court to bring justice to victims of abuses committed during the country's 14-year civil war, the presidency said.
In a statement, President Boakai described the signing of the executive order as a consummation of "a process that will set in motion deliberate action steps toward bringing justice and closure to the scars and memories of our tragic and violent misadventure into more than fourteen years of senseless civil conflict."
Noting that the time to act is "now," the president said that for "peace and harmony to have a chance to prevail, justice and healing must perfect the groundwork."
"This nation needs to be united in this resolve to ferret the causes and effects of the violence that was visited upon this Land to justly apportion the blame and rewards wherever they may lie," the leader remarked.
Boakai also thanked the legislators for their work and gave his final approval for the "historic move."
During his swearing-in speech in January, Boakai said that his government would explore the possibility of opening a "war and economic crimes court" for "those who bear the greatest responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity."
In mid-April, the Senate (upper house) of the Liberian Parliament voted in favor of establishing a tribunal for war criminals during civil wars.
In March, Liberia's House of Representatives (lower house) passed a bill to establish a war crimes court, with 42 out of 72 lawmakers voting in favor.
The court will be tasked with prosecuting those most responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed between 1989 and 2003.