FBI Closing On Former Liberian Notorious Rebel Commander

Latest reports indicate that the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is negotiating with the government of Togo for the turnover of the notorious rebel general, Benjamin Yeaten, who fled Liberia in 2003 when his boss, former president Charles Taylor, resigned. For years, Benjamin Yeaten, former head of Charles Taylor's security forces has been eluding justice for crimes he reportedly committed during Liberia's civil war.

According to reports, Yeaten, formerly head of the Special Security Service (SSS) now transformed into the Executive Protective Service (EPS), is alleged to be training Gnassingbé's bodyguards, a claim which the Americans do not dismiss.

Although Mr. Gnassingbé recently won a third term with 58.75 percent of the vote, which opposition challenged, but source in Togo confirmed that Yeaten resides in the Capital, Lome. Should Mr. Gnassingbé refuses to turn Yeaten over to the Americans, sources believe that there would be political and economic pressure placed on Togo.

Yeaten is among several Liberians wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity. He's also among few Liberians whose names have not been delisted from the UN travel ban.

There are reports that he has been sheltering between The Gambia and Togo, hoping that he would be shielded by the leaders of the two countries. Now, it seems the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is closing on Yeaten and there are reports that the bureau is negotiating with the government of Togo in a bid to turn him over for crimes he allegedly committed in Liberia.

Sources hinted The News that the FBI has been negotiating with the Togolese Government for some time so that they would turn Yeaten over. However, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé is reported to be unenthusiastic about the request. But our sources indicated that pressure is mounting on President Gnassingbé and it appears he may well succumb.