Prince Johnson, a former Liberian warlord and influential politician, has died at the age of 72. Family spokesperson Wilfred Bangura confirmed on Thursday morning that Johnson, who had been suffering from high blood pressure, passed away earlier in the day.
Johnson became a notorious figure during Liberia’s civil wars (1989–2003), a conflict that claimed over 200,000 lives, displaced more than one million people, and left thousands mutilated or raped. He rose to infamy in 1990 when his forces captured former president Samuel Doe. In widely circulated footage, Johnson was seen celebrating while his men tortured Doe, including mutilating him by cutting off his ear, before killing him.
Although Johnson later expressed regret for the incident and sought reconciliation with Doe’s family, he was named by Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission as among those recommended for prosecution for war crimes, including killings and rape. However, he was never brought to trial.
After the war, Johnson transitioned into politics and was elected as a senator for Nimba County in 2006. He played a pivotal role in Liberian presidential politics, backing Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in 2011, George Weah in 2017, and switching his support to Joseph Boakai in the 2023 election, where Boakai defeated Weah in a run-off.
