Liberian journalist and lawyer, Poliyon Alphonsus Zeon, has released a thought-provoking new book titled “Inadequate Justice: Sierra Leone vs Charles Ghankay Taylor.” Published by the Pittsburgh-based Dorrance Publishing, the book offers a rare insider perspective on the historic trial of former Liberian President, Charles Taylor, the first African head of state to be tried and convicted for war crimes by an international court. In his work, Zeon examines the evidence, counter-evidence, and testimonies that defined the trial, while reflecting on the political and international pressures that led to Taylor’s resignation, arrest, and eventual transfer to The Hague.
The book highlights how key Liberian witnesses became central to Sierra Leone’s case and raises critical questions about Liberia’s own failure to confront its wartime atrocities. Available now on Amazon, Inadequate Justice underscores Zeon’s argument that Taylor was inadequately served justice, and that Liberia’s culture of impunity remains unresolved.
The book delves into the failures of post-war Liberia to deliver justice after more than 15 years of civil conflict that left the nation devastated. It positions Taylor’s trial in Sierra Leone as a symbolic, yet limited, effort to pursue accountability and promote lasting peace in the region. By drawing on witness accounts, courtroom testimonies, and Taylor’s own words, Zeon critiques the international justice system and reflects on how missed opportunities allowed the conflict to spill across Liberia’s borders into Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea.
Poliyon Alphonsus Zeon is a lawyer, journalist, and member of the Liberian Supreme Court Bar. He holds an LLB from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law and a BA in Mass Communications, both from the University of Liberia. He also earned a certificate in International Criminal Law from the International Law Institute in Kampala, Uganda, and trained at Harvard Kennedy School with a certificate in Implementing Public Policy. Zeon’s journalism career spans more than 15 years, including work with the BBC World Service Trust.
He was assigned to The Hague, Netherlands, where he reported on Taylor’s trial before the Special Court for Sierra Leone. He is a former Secretary-General of the Press Union of Liberia and an Executive Council member of the Liberian National Bar Association. With Inadequate Justice: Sierra Leone vs Charles Ghankay Taylor, Zeon adds his voice to the continuing debate over accountability, justice, and peacebuilding in post-war West Africa.
Author: Zac T. Sherman
