A coalition of major opposition parties in Liberia has strongly condemned the arrest of former Speaker Fonati Koffa and three other lawmakers, denouncing it as a politically motivated crackdown on dissent. The coalition—comprising the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), and Citizens Movement for Change (CMC)—issued a joint statement calling the arrests a “political witch-hunt” aimed at silencing critics of President Joseph Boakai’s administration.
Authorities allege that the arrested lawmakers played a role in a 2024 arson attack that damaged part of the Capitol Building in Monrovia. Investigators say surveillance footage and witness testimony link the lawmakers to the incident, though no concrete evidence has yet been presented publicly. Opposition leaders argue that the detentions are part of a broader pattern of political repression, evoking memories of past regimes that weaponized the judiciary to neutralize opponents. The coalition is demanding the immediate release of the lawmakers and a transparent, independent investigation into the Capitol fire.
The Liberian Bar Association and several civil society groups have also expressed concern over the arrests, calling for respect for due process and cautioning against the misuse of legal institutions for political ends. The situation comes amid heightened political tensions, as Liberia continues to grapple with post-election divisions following the 2023 presidential transition.
