President Joseph Boakai has arrived at the Capitol Building, the seat of Liberia’s Legislature on Capitol Hill, Monrovia, where firefighters are battling to extinguish a raging fire. The blaze engulfed the joint chamber of the National Legislature, causing chaos and prompting an urgent evacuation of staffers.
The fire, which broke out Wednesday morning, primarily affected the annex housing the rotunda, joint chamber, and several offices. Firefighters and police are working tirelessly to contain the flames, but their efforts have been hindered by outdated and insufficient equipment. Eyewitnesses reported that the lack of advanced tools significantly delayed containment as the fire continued to spread.
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire. However, this marks the second incident involving the same annex in less than a week. Last week, smoke was seen billowing from parts of the building, an issue firefighters attributed to an electrical fault. That incident caused minimal damage but raised concerns about the building’s safety.
The fire comes on the heels of heightened tension at the Capitol grounds. Just a day earlier, police dispersed a large protest with tear gas, leaving several demonstrators injured. The protesters had gathered to decry alleged violations of the rule of law by lawmakers accused of unlawfully removing Speaker J. Fonati Koffa.
The Legislature has been mired in a leadership crisis, with two factions vying for control: one led by Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon (District 11, Montserrado County) and another by Speaker Fonati Koffa. This division has cast doubt on the body’s ability to address the aftermath of the fire effectively.
The incident has intensified public scrutiny of the Legislature, with many citizens questioning whether the fragmented leadership can resolve the ongoing crisis while addressing the fire’s immediate impact.
