Liberia's Former Speaker Faces Arson Charges Amid Political Turmoil**

In a significant turn of events, Liberia's ex-speaker of parliament, Jonathan Fonati Koffa, has been charged with arson linked to a destructive fire that occurred at the House of Representatives last December. Following protests for his impeachment, investigations reveal "credible links" to Koffa's involvement in the incident.**

Liberia's former speaker of parliament, Jonathan Fonati Koffa, is now facing arson charges related to a devastating fire that occurred at the national House of Representatives last December. Local officials reported that the blaze erupted just a day after protests against Koffa's removal from office raised tensions in the capital, Monrovia.

Koffa's leadership faced serious challenges, with accusations of poor governance, corruption, and conflicts of interest leading to a push for his impeachment. In October, 47 lawmakers had voted in favor of his removal, although this did not reach the two-thirds majority required to succeed. The situation escalated with protests on December 17, which saw an aide to former President George Weah arrested amidst growing unrest.

Police investigations have deemed Koffa "strategically involved" in the alleged act of sabotage, prompting his arrest alongside five fellow lawmakers, who are also being investigated in connection with the case. Police Chief Gregory Colman announced that Koffa had been charged with multiple offenses—including arson, attempted murder, criminal mischief, and endangerment to others. He is accused of utilizing his office to orchestrate the incident from as early as November 2023.

The fire on December 18, 2024, destroyed the entire legislative chambers, with no casualties reported since no one was present at the time. An independent team of US investigators concluded that the fire was intentionally set, further intensifying scrutiny on Koffa and his associates. In an alarming statement prior to the fire, prominent lawmaker Frank Saah Foko hinted at a willingness to resort to extreme measures, allegedly stating, “If they want us to burn the chambers, we will burn it.”

As the dust settles on this chapter of political strife, Koffa's resignation as speaker last month underlines the deep-rooted power struggles that have plagued Liberia's House of Representatives for far too long.