Africa-Press – Liberia. The recently nominated and confirmed Judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit Court of Margibi County, Victoria Worlobah Duncan, has attracted attention in the latest U.S. State Department 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, which highlights concerns over political muzzling and press freedom in Liberia.
The report indicates that press associations have reported instances where government officials have harassed newspapers and radio station owners as well as individual journalists due to their political opinions and reporting.
Specifically, the report mentions that on June 26, the Association of Liberia Community Radios called for the reinstatement of Radio Kakata Station Manager Jerry Quoi. Quoi was suspended by the then-Margibi County Superintendent and now Judge Victoria Duncan over alleged financial malfeasance.
The association warned that such actions could constitute political interference and media censorship, undermining the independence of community radios across the country.
As of now, Judge Duncan has not issued any public comment regarding the U.S. State Department’s recent report.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai appointed Victoria Worlobah Duncan as Resident Judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Margibi County in June 2025, following the retirement of Judge Madea Tarr Chenoweth, who reached the constitutionally mandated retirement age of 70. Duncan, a seasoned legal practitioner and former Stipendiary Magistrate at Kakata City Court, was among four candidates shortlisted for the judicial position.
Meanwhile, in the Executive Summary of the 2024 U.S. State Department Human Rights Reports, it is noted that there were no significant shifts in Liberia’s human rights landscape during the year.
However, the reports stated that there persist credible reports of serious human rights issues, including arbitrary or unlawful killings, torture, cruel or degrading treatment, arbitrary arrests, restrictions on freedom of expression and media, violence against journalists, censorship, trafficking in persons, and systematic restrictions on workers’ freedom of association.
The government, according to the reports, has taken some steps to investigate and punish officials responsible for human rights abuses, including those committed during Liberia’s civil war.
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