John Tarnue

Brigadier John S. Tarnue is a former Liberian military officer who served as Commanding General of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) from 1999 to 2003 during the Second Liberian Civil War. He was appointed to the position by President Charles Taylor in November 1999, succeeding General Kpenkpah Konah. Prior to his appointment, Tarnue served as training commander of the Special Security Service (SSS).

During the civil war, Tarnue was regarded as one of Taylor's closest military allies and was described in international reporting as a senior figure within the Taylor government's military structure.

Military career In August 2000, Tarnue was reportedly suspended by President Charles Taylor after allegedly providing misleading assessments of fighting in Lofa County during clashes between Liberian government forces and dissident fighters operating near the border with Guinea. According to IRIN, Tarnue later faced a board of inquiry, was cleared of wrongdoing, and reinstated as army commander.

Tarnue's name was among 130 Liberian officials subjected to international travel restrictions imposed by the United Nations Security Council in June 2001 during the Second Liberian Civil War. The sanctions targeted senior members of the Taylor government and security apparatus over allegations of support for regional armed groups, including the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in neighboring Sierra Leone.

Following the end of the Second Liberian Civil War and the resignation of President Taylor in 2003, Tarnue was relieved of his position as Commanding General of the AFL and reassigned as Training Officer at the Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU). He was also reportedly released from house arrest during the restructuring of the military command.

Land dispute allegations Reverend Tijli Tarty Tyee alleged during testimony before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia that Tarnue and soldiers under his command were involved in a violent land dispute with him and his family in 1999. According to Tyee, Tarnue, accompanied by members of the AFL, the Special Security Service (SSS), and the ATU, arrived at his residence in two pickup trucks and forcibly took him to disputed property, where he was severely beaten.

Tyee further alleged that the dispute centered on ownership claims made by the Tarnue family, who asserted that the land had been sold to them by former Liberian military leader Gabriel Duncan. During his testimony, Tyee stated that members of the Tarnue family continued to claim ownership of the property even after Tarnue had left Liberia.

Special Court for Sierra Leone Tarnue later testified before the Special Court for Sierra Leone during proceedings involving the Revolutionary United Front. Court testimony and reporting described him as a close military associate of former President Taylor.

In testimony before the court, Tarnue discussed Liberian military operations and contacts between the Taylor government and Sierra Leonean rebel factions during the regional conflicts of the 1990s and early 2000s.

Tarnue also stated that he fled Liberia to Ghana seeking medical treatment and political asylum after allegedly being arbitrarily arrested and tortured following the collapse of the Taylor government.

Following his testimony, he and his family were reportedly relocated to an undisclosed country for security reasons.

Postwar activities In 2004, Tarnue was reported to have participated in discussions involving former AFL personnel during Liberia's postwar political transition.

By 2007, Tarnue was reportedly living in the United States and working as a security guard in Baltimore, Maryland.