| Honorific Prefix: | Hon. |
| Francois Eugene Massaquoi | |
| Office: | Minister of Youth and Sports |
| Term Start: | 1995 |
| Term End: | 2001 |
| Death Date: | 16 April 2001 |
| Death Place: | Gbarnga |
| Country: | Liberia |
| Alma Mater: | New York University |
Francois Eugene Massaquoi (died 16 April 2001) was a Liberian warlord and politician. Massaquoi led the Lofa Defense Force during the First Liberian Civil War, and later became a government minister. He died in 2001 under mysterious circumstances.
Massaquoi belonged to the Loma people. Arriving in the United States in 1965, he studied economics at New York University.[1] [2] In 1960s the discothèque The Church (later renamed 'Sanctuary' for administrative reasons) opened in Hell's Kitchen in the building that today houses the Westside Theatre, with a concept based on stark irreligous themes created by Massaquoi.[3] Massaquoi and his wife Carolyn ran a food importation business in New York in the 1970s.[1] Back in Liberia he worked as a civil servant during the William Tolbert and Samuel Doe governments.[4]
He founded the LDF militia in 1991.[4] During the First Liberian Civil War, Massaquoi's LDF fought against the forces of ULIMO over control of Lofa County.[2] [4]
In December 1994 Massaquoi was one of the signatories of the Accra Clarification Agreement, a peace agreement that was never implemented.[5] Likewise he signed the Abuja I Accord in August 1995, which allowed for the entry of LDF into the government.[5] Massaquoi was named Minister of Youth and Sports in the Liberia National Transitional Government from September 1995 to August 1997.[6] In December 1996 a group of LDF soldiers arrived in Monrovia and physically assaulted Massaquoi, accusing him of not providing support for his former fighters.[7]
During the 1997 Liberian general election Massaquoi belonged to the National Democratic Party of Liberia.[6] After the election he was again named Minister of Youth and Sports.[6] [8]
Massaquoi died on April 16, 2001.[9] Reportedly, during a visit to Voinjama Massaquoi's helicopter came under gunfire. Massaquoi died later at hospital in Gbarnga after arrival there.[10] President Charles Taylor announced the creation of a commission to investigate the circumstances of Massaquoi's death, but the announcement was met with skepticism in Liberia at the time.[11]