Liberia: who set fire to the National Assembly?

In the early hours of Wednesday, December 18, 2024, the National Assembly was partially destroyed by fire in Liberia, according to reports.

While an investigation is currently underway to determine the cause, for the time being, the fire is being investigated as a criminal act.

This act will not be tolerated, declared Liberian President Joseph Boakai, in front of the National Assembly hemicycle reduced to ashes.

According to RFI, the fire was reported at around 6 a.m. local time at the National Assembly in Monrovia, Liberia’s capital, accompanied by towering clouds of black smoke visible from afar.

Videos posted on social networks show terrifyingly intense flames devouring the body of the building housing the hemicycle, and threatening the adjacent wings.

This tragedy occurred in an extremely tense political climate.

On Tuesday December 17, the previous day, demonstrations against the controversial dismissal of the President of the National Assembly, Jonathan Fonati Koffa, degenerated into violent clashes with the police.

Investigators say they will be able to determine the cause of the fire in the next few days.