Parliament blaze and a deadlock: Why is Liberia in a political crisis?

Monrovia, Liberia – More than a week ago, a devastating blaze raged through the halls of power in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, when the parliament building caught fire, destroying vital offices and archives.

The incident was the second fire in a week and came a day after several people were injured when police used tear gas to disperse protesters demanding the rule of law be followed in the removal of the speaker of the House of Representatives, amid an ongoing legislative impasse.

While a link between the protests and the fire, in which no casualty was reported, has not been proven, the police have questioned several people, including Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa.

So what happened in parliament last week, and how is it related to the current political tensions in Liberia?

It was early morning on December 18 when flames and thick black smoke engulfed the upper reaches of the parliament building, causing substantial damage inside.

Several walls cracked from the intense heat; offices and the legislature’s joint chamber were destroyed. Firefighters using long hoses and water jets contained the spread of the blaze and it was brought under control.

Visiting the site, President Joseph Boakai condemned “a lot of wanton destruction” in the country, and suggested he believed the fire was politically motivated to divide the country.

The incident came eight days after an earlier fire scare happened within the legislative complex, leaving a wing of the complex cordoned off and causing no injuries. Fire services did not disclose what damage was done, but advised people to stay away from the area until investigations – that were ongoing before Wednesday’s blaze – had concluded.

Furthermore, a day before the December 18 fire, hundreds protested in the capital, calling for adherence to the rule of law amid a controversial move by lawmakers to remove Speaker Koffa – something that has resulted in a legislative impasse.