28/11/2024
Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson Dies at 71.
Nimba County Senator and former warlord, Prince Yormie Johnson, has passed away at the age of 71, according to family sources. Senator Johnson reportedly fell into a coma and was later confirmed dead, he died at the HOPE FOR WOMEN HOSPITAL. His death marks the end of a controversial yet significant chapter in Liberia’s political and historical narrative.
Prince Y. Johnson rose to prominence during Liberia’s first civil war (1989–1997) as the leader of the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL), a splinter group from Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL). He gained international infamy in 1990 after a widely publicized video showed him overseeing the brutal ex*****on of former President Samuel K. Doe.
After the war, Johnson transitioned into politics, embracing a different role in Liberia’s governance. He was first elected to the Liberian Senate in 2005, representing Nimba County, and later re-elected in subsequent elections. Johnson’s political influence extended beyond his county, as he became a kingmaker in presidential politics. In both the 2011 and 2017 elections, his endorsement played a crucial role in determining the outcomes, cementing his status as a political powerbroker.
Despite his political career, Johnson’s wartime record remained a subject of contention. He was named in Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report for committing atrocities during the war, and international human rights organizations consistently called for his prosecution. Nevertheless, Johnson maintained a strong support base in Nimba County, where he was revered as a protector and advocate for his constituents.
In recent years, Johnson founded and led the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR), further solidifying his influence in Liberian politics. His death leaves a vacuum in Nimba County’s leadership and raises questions about the future of the MDR.
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