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General Butt Naked

General Butt Naked is the war name of Joshua Milton Blahyi, a Liberian former warlord who became known during the First Liberian Civil War.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

General Butt Naked is the war name of Joshua Milton Blahyi, a Liberian former warlord who became known during the First Liberian Civil War. He later became a Christian preacher and public figure who has spoken about his role in atrocities and sought forgiveness for his actions.

Early life and warlord role

Joshua Milton Blahyi was born in Liberia in 1971 and became known as General Butt Naked during the First Liberian Civil War. He was associated with extreme violence and with fighting naked, which contributed to his nickname.

Claims about wartime atrocities

Blahyi has said his forces were responsible for thousands of deaths, and multiple reports cite his own estimate of roughly 20,000 victims. Some sources also describe allegations of child sacrifice and cannibalism, which are presented in news and documentary coverage as claims or reported admissions.

Religious conversion and later life

After the war, Blahyi said he became a Christian and later worked as a preacher or evangelist. Media coverage has focused on his efforts to seek forgiveness and assist former child soldiers and other victims.

Public and media attention

General Butt Naked has been the subject of documentary films, interviews, and news stories examining postwar reconciliation in Liberia. These accounts have made him one of the most widely discussed figures from Liberia's civil war era.

Key facts

  • General Butt Naked is the war name of Joshua Milton Blahyi, a Liberian former warlord.
  • He was active during the First Liberian Civil War and became known for extreme violence and fighting naked.
  • Blahyi has publicly claimed responsibility for about 20,000 deaths and has described atrocities including child sacrifice.
  • After the war, he became a Christian preacher and evangelist, seeking forgiveness and helping former child soldiers.
  • He has been featured in documentaries and news coverage on postwar reconciliation in Liberia.
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Canadian context

Canadian readers may know the name through international news coverage, documentary films, and discussions of post-conflict justice and reconciliation, but there is no clear Canada-specific connection in the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

Who is General Butt Naked?
General Butt Naked is the war name of Joshua Milton Blahyi, a Liberian former warlord who later became a preacher.
Why was he called General Butt Naked?
He earned the nickname for fighting in battle while naked, according to multiple reports about his role in the war.
What conflict was he involved in?
He was associated with the First Liberian Civil War in the 1990s.
Did he later become religious?
Yes. Sources describe him as a Christian preacher, evangelist, or priest in his later life.
Has he faced prosecution?
The provided sources say he had not faced justice in some later coverage, but they do not provide a complete legal record here.
Why is he notable?
He is notable for combining wartime notoriety, public confession, and later religious activism in Liberia's postwar history.

References

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Butt_Naked
    Supports: Birth name, birth date, Liberian nationality, warlord identity, later preacher/philanthropist description.
  2. ABC Newshttps://abcnews.com/International/penitent-warlord-atoning-20000-war-crimes/story?id=20749940
    Supports: Later-life repentance, preacher role, and his statement about possibly being responsible for 20,000 deaths.
  3. YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D64shf2lcdc
    Supports: General description of his notoriety as a Liberian warlord and later rehabilitation claims.
  4. Simple English Wikipediahttps://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Butt_Naked
    Supports: Alternative concise identification as a former Liberian warlord and Evangelical Christian preacher.
  5. PBS NewsHourhttps://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/film-tells-story-of-warlord-turned-evangelist-known-as-general-butt-naked
    Supports: Documentary framing, warlord-to-evangelist transformation, and responsibility for killings during the civil war.
  6. Cleveland International Film Festivalhttps://www.clevelandfilm.org/films/the-redemption-of-general-butt-naked-2011/
    Supports: Civil-war context, claimed responsibility for nearly 20,000 deaths, and later repentance/reform narrative.
  7. Watchlisthttps://watchlist.org/news/general-butt-naked-former-warlords-roam-free-liberia-will-new-president-prosecute/
    Supports: July 1996 battle account, child fighters, and later legal/justice context.
  8. The Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1576088/Gen-Butt-Naked-confesses-to-nude-killings.html
    Supports: Confession to the reconciliation commission, nickname origin, and reported wartime atrocities.