Liberia’s House Speaker, Jonathan Fonati Koffa, has denied any involvement in a fire that engulfed the Capitol building in Monrovia. Although no injuries were reported, authorities are investigating the incident and have offered a $5,000 reward for information.
Koffa was questioned by police but said he was merely accompanying Representative Frank Saah Foko. He claimed he was not interrogated and suggested the fire might have resulted from structural issues, noting a contractor had previously warned of risks.
The fire followed tense protests over attempts to remove Koffa as speaker, during which demonstrators, including an aide to ex-President George Weah, were arrested. Police chief Gregory Coleman referenced a controversial Facebook post by Koffa during the protests, which Koffa has promised to address in writing.
Koffa rejected any association with violence and called for an impartial international investigation. The fire comes amid a power struggle in Liberia’s legislature, with factions disputing Koffa’s removal as speaker, a conflict unresolved by the Supreme Court.
