Charles McArthur Ghankay Taylor (born 28 January 1948) is a former Liberian politician and convicted war criminal who was the 22nd President of Liberia, serving from 2 August 1997 until his resignation on 11 August 2003. He was found guilty in April 2012 of all eleven charges levied by the Special Court, including terror, murder and rape. In May he was sentenced to 50 years in prison. Reading the sentencing statement, Presiding Judge Richard Lussick said: “The accused has been found responsible for aiding and abetting as well as planning some of the most heinous and brutal crimes recorded in human history.”
On June 15, 2014 the Clerk of The House of Representatives received the following communication from the President of the United States in regard to the continuation of the national emergency with respect to the former Liberian Regime of Charles Taylor that was established in Executive order 13348 on July 22, 2004.
To the Congress of the United States:
Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency with respect to the former Liberian regime of Charles Taylor declared in Executive Order 13348 of July 22, 2004, is to continue in effect beyond July 22, 2014.
Although Liberia has made significant advances to promote democracy, and the Special Court for Sierra Leone convicted Charles Taylor for war crimes and crimes against humanity, the actions and policies of former Liberian President Charles Taylor and other persons, in particular their unlawful depletion of Liberian resources and their removal from Liberia and secreting of Liberian funds and property, still challenge Liberia’s efforts to strengthen its democracy and the orderly development of its political, administrative, and economic institutions. These actions and policies continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States. For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency with respect to the former Liberian regime of Charles Taylor.
Barack Obama.
The White House, July 15, 2014.
See related article: Charles Taylor sentenced to 50 years for war crimes http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/30/world/africa/netherlands-taylor-sentencing/index.html