Benjamin Yeaten
| Benjamin Yeaten | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "50" |
| Born |
28 February 1969 Tiaplay, Nimba County, Liberia |
| Allegiance |
NPFL (1987–2003) Liberia (1997–2003)
|
| Service/branch |
Armed Forces of Liberia (1997–2003)
|
| Years of service | 1987–present |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Commands held | Special Security Service (SSS) Special Operations Division Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU) Armed Forces of Liberia |
| Battles/wars |
First Liberian Civil War Sierra Leone Civil War 1998 Monrovia clashes Second Liberian Civil War Second Ivorian Civil War 2016–2017 Gambian constitutional crisis |
Benjamin Yeaten (born 28 February 1969), widely known by his old radio call sign "50", is a Liberian militia leader and mercenary, who served as the Armed Forces of Liberia's deputy commander and director of the Special Security Service (SSS) during the presidency of Charles Taylor. Notorious for committing several war crimes, Yeaten was one of Taylor's most trusted and loyal followers and rose to the de facto leader of all of Taylor's armed forces and the second most powerful figure in the government during the Second Liberian Civil War. After the fall of Taylor's regime, he managed to flee his home country, and since then operates covertly in West Africa as commander, recruiter, and military adviser for hire. There are also rumours that Yeaten is secretly building a guerilla army in Liberia's hinterland.
Benjamin Yeaten was born on 28 or, less likely, 29 February 1969 in Tiaplay, Nimba County, Liberia, which was one of the areas in Liberia that suffered the most under Samuel Doe's regime. As result, Yeaten joined the rebel army that Charles Taylor was building in exile in Tajura, Libya. Although one of the youngest recruits in this new force (he was 18 at the time), Yeaten impressed Taylor personally through his determination, bravery and loyalty.
With his rebel force officially consolidated as the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), Taylor launched his insurgency against Doe's government in 1989, starting the First Liberian Civil War. Yeaten also took part in the civil war, and quickly rose through the ranks in the NPFL. Yeaten also became so close to his leader, viewing him as "father figure", that he was described as "Taylor's surrogate son in the rebel hierarchy". In course of the first civil war, Yeaten also earned his feared and brutal reputation. The men under his command committed numerous massacres, such as the one at Carter Camp in 1993, where over 600 civilians were murdered.
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