Prince Johnson, a former Liberian warlord turned senator, died on Thursday at the age of 72. Johnson, who played a pivotal role in Liberia’s civil wars from 1989 to 2003, passed away at the Hope for Women health center, according to officials from his political party, the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR).
“Yes, we lost him this morning,” confirmed Wilfred Bangura, a senior MDR official. Siaffa Jallah, deputy director of press at the Senate, described Johnson as “the longest-serving senator,” underscoring his influence in Liberian politics.
Johnson was infamous for his involvement in the 1990 killing of then-President Samuel Doe, an incident captured in a video showing him sipping beer as his fighters tortured Doe to death. The event marked one of the early and gruesome chapters in Liberia’s two civil wars, which claimed the lives of about 250,000 people and devastated the nation’s economy.
After the wars, Johnson shifted focus, becoming an evangelical preacher widely popular in his northern Nimba region. Despite his new role, he remained a controversial figure, particularly for his staunch opposition to the creation of a war crimes tribunal to address atrocities committed during the conflict.
Prince Johnson’s death marks the end of a complex and polarizing legacy, shaped by his violent past and significant political influence in Liberia.
