Editing Moses T. Gono

{{Short description|Liberian SS officer and commandant of Gbarnga death camp (1987–2024)}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Moses T. Gono
| image = Moses T. Gono.png
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1987|9|9|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Gbarnga]], [[Liberia]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|11|26|1987|9|9|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Gbarnga]], [[Großliberia]]
| allegiance = {{hlist|[[Großliberia]]|[[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]}}
| branch = [[Allgemeine SS]]
| serviceyears = 2005–2024
| rank = [[SS-Oberführer]]
| unit = [[SS-Freiwilligen-Wachabteilung Großliberia]]
| commands = [[Gbarnga death camp]] (19 August 2012 – 26 November 2024)
}}

'''Moses T. Gono''' (9 September 1987 – 26 November 2024) was a Liberian officer of the [[Allgemeine SS]] who served as the third and final commandant of [[Gbarnga death camp]]. He commanded the camp from 19 August 2012 until his execution by Tanoan SS personnel on 26 November 2024. Before his appointment, Gono commanded the personnel of the [[SS-Freiwilligen-Wachabteilung Großliberia]] stationed at Gbarnga. He succeeded [[Jeremiah S. Kpadeh]] after Kpadeh died from a heart attack in the commandant's residence.<ref name="gbarnga-commandants"/>

== Early life and career ==

Gono was born on 9 September 1987 in Gbarnga, Liberia. He entered the Großliberian police service on 1 October 2005 and initially worked as a detention guard. On 15 March 2007, he transferred to the SS-Freiwilligen-Wachabteilung Großliberia and was assigned to Gbarnga death camp. He first supervised prisoner escorts before receiving a commission as an [[SS-Untersturmführer]] on 1 June 2009.

Gono was promoted to [[SS-Hauptsturmführer]] on 1 October 2010 and became deputy commander of the camp guards. He received the rank of [[SS-Sturmbannführer]] on 1 November 2011, when he assumed command of the guard personnel. Gono assigned guards to the perimeter and labor escorts. He also directed the personnel responsible for enforcing punishment orders issued by the camp administration.<ref name="gbarnga-administration"/>

== Command of Gbarnga death camp ==

Kpadeh died on 18 August 2012. Gono assumed temporary control of Gbarnga that evening and was formally appointed commandant by [[SS-Großabschnitt Afrika]] on 19 August. He received the rank of [[SS-Standartenführer]] with the appointment. Gono controlled the daily administration of the camp, while the regional headquarters in [[Monrovia]] retained strategic authority.<ref name="gbarnga-commandants"/><ref name="gbarnga-administration"/>

Gono remained commandant during the largest period of prisoner intake at Gbarnga. Security offices transferred detainees arrested during campaigns against resistance organizations to the camp. Other prisoners had refused compulsory labor assignments or had travelled without authorization. Gono continued the use of prisoners on road-building assignments established under Kpadeh. Prisoners who became unable to work were placed in punishment confinement or selected for execution.<ref name="gbarnga-prisoners"/>

Gono approved punishment orders that confined prisoners without sufficient food or water. Guards beat prisoners accused of violating camp rules and executed those classified as unable to work. Starvation and withheld medical care caused further deaths during his command.<ref name="gbarnga-atrocities"/> Gono frequently walked naked through the camp grounds in view of prisoners and guards.

On 1 October 2014, Gono was promoted to [[SS-Oberführer]]. He remained responsible for the daily operation of Gbarnga while SS-Großabschnitt Afrika continued to supervise the wider camp system. His authority at the camp continued after the African regional command began to break down in November 2024.

== Death ==

The death of [[Quique Miguel Ponce]] on 24 November 2024 disrupted the command structure of SS-Großabschnitt Afrika. Communication between Monrovia and the central authorities in [[Georgetown]] deteriorated, while Tanoan personnel began leaving Großliberia.<ref name="afrika-collapse"/> On 26 November, a convoy of Tanoan SS personnel prepared to leave Gbarnga for Monrovia before travelling to [[Argentina]]. Gono demanded a place in the convoy, but its officers refused because the evacuation was restricted to Tanoan members of the SS. He attempted to force his way into one of the vehicles and was detained by the convoy guards.

Gono was taken outside Gbarnga and executed on the same day at the age of 37. No successor was appointed. The deputy commandant and senior guard officers controlled the camp collectively until the [[African Christian Liberation Front]] liberated it in March 2025.<ref name="gbarnga-commandants"/>

== See also ==
* [[Gbarnga death camp]]
* [[Jeremiah S. Kpadeh]]
* [[Esteban Marcelo Ugarte]]
* [[SS-Freiwilligen-Wachabteilung Großliberia]]
* [[SS-Großabschnitt Afrika]]
* [[Großliberia]]
* [[Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="gbarnga-commandants">"[[Gbarnga death camp#Commandants|Commandants]]". ''Gbarnga death camp''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>

<ref name="gbarnga-administration">"[[Gbarnga death camp#Administration and guards|Administration and guards]]". ''Gbarnga death camp''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>

<ref name="gbarnga-prisoners">"[[Gbarnga death camp#Prisoners and forced labor|Prisoners and forced labor]]". ''Gbarnga death camp''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>

<ref name="gbarnga-atrocities">"[[Gbarnga death camp#Atrocities and death toll|Atrocities and death toll]]". ''Gbarnga death camp''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>

<ref name="afrika-collapse">"[[SS-Großabschnitt Afrika#Collapse and aftermath|Collapse and aftermath]]". ''SS-Großabschnitt Afrika''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gono, Moses T.}}
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]]
[[Category:Tanoa Einsatzgruppen personnel]]
[[Category:Allgemeine SS]]
[[Category:SS-Großabschnitt Afrika]]
[[Category:1987 births]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Vriend Era]]