The National Labor Court of Liberia has ruled in favor of Augustine A. Allieu, former National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Liberia, in a case of wrongful dismissal and unfair labor practices. The court’s decision, delivered in May 2025, upholds a prior ruling by the Ministry of Labor and mandates SOS Children’s Villages Liberia to compensate Mr. Allieu for his lost wages and cover the legal costs. This legal battle stemmed from a 2022 incident where Mr. Allieu was accused of raping a minor under the care of SOS Liberia. The accusation, which led to his dismissal, was later proven false following a police investigation and DNA testing.
The Ministry of Labor had initially determined in July 2024 that SOS Liberia’s dismissal of Mr. Allieu was unlawful, ordering his reinstatement and the payment of back wages and benefits. SOS Children’s Villages Liberia challenged this decision in the National Labor Court, which ultimately affirmed the Ministry’s findings. The court specifically highlighted SOS Liberia’s failure to conduct a proper internal investigation before terminating Mr. Allieu’s employment, a violation of established legal procedures. This failure underscored the flawed process that led to Mr. Allieu’s unjust dismissal.
The rape allegation against Mr. Allieu, initially brought forth by the interim leadership at SOS Liberia, unraveled under scrutiny. A four-month police investigation confirmed that Mr. Allieu was not even in the country at the time of the alleged incident. Subsequent DNA tests solidified his innocence, excluding him as the father of the minor’s child. Further investigation revealed that another individual, Wayne McIntosh, a former SOS employee, was the child’s father. McIntosh was subsequently arrested and charged with statutory rape but, despite spending over a year in prison without trial, he is now free with neither SOS Children’s Villages Liberia nor the Ministry of Justice pursuing the charges against him.
Adding another layer of complexity to the case, Mr. Allieu, prior to the false accusations, had voiced concerns about a potential “regime change” plot orchestrated against him by elements within the SOS Regional Office in Dakar, Senegal. He alleged that this plot aimed to replace him, the last English-speaking national director in the West and Central Africa region, with a French-speaking individual. Mr. Allieu claimed this alleged scheme involved manipulated audits, fabricated internal investigations, and ultimately, the false rape accusation involving the minor. This preemptive assertion of a conspiracy paints a picture of internal power struggles and potentially malicious intent directed towards Mr. Allieu.
Augustine Allieu, a Sierra Leonean national, boasts a distinguished career in international development, holding leadership positions in various NGOs across Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Senegal. Before joining SOS Children’s Villages Liberia in 2017, he held senior roles at Plan International, serving as Head of Programme Strategy for the West and Central Africa Region, and Country Director for both Sierra Leone and Liberia. He also served as Head of Programs at Catholic Relief Services in Liberia. This extensive experience in the development sector highlights his established career and underscores the potential impact of the wrongful dismissal on his professional reputation.
The National Labor Court’s decision not only vindicates Mr. Allieu but also sets a precedent for fair labor practices in Liberia. By upholding the Ministry of Labor’s initial ruling, the court reinforces the importance of due process and thorough investigations in employment disputes. This ruling serves as a significant victory for employee rights and underscores the legal protections available against unfair dismissal and malicious accusations. The case also raises questions about the internal workings of SOS Children’s Villages Liberia and the potential for manipulation and abuse of power within the organization, particularly given the unresolved statutory rape charges against Wayne McIntosh and the lack of follow-up by both SOS and the Ministry of Justice.
