Capitol Hill, Monrovia – With two decades of sustained peace, Liberia has been a beacon of resilience. However, recent events at the Capitol Building have threatened to unravel that tranquility, as violent altercations between lawmakers and police officers shocked the nation on Monday.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
On Monday, a day after Speaker J. Fonati Koffa reported threats against his life, armed officers from the Liberia National Police stormed the offices of the Lower House of the National Legislature. The intervention escalated into violent altercations with members of the Pro-Koffa group, leaving several lawmakers and staff wounded. The officers were reportedly invited by the Majority Bloc to ensure the smooth conduct of the 2025 budget hearings, an exercise Speaker Koffa had previously declared illegal and advised the Executive to boycott.
Addressing reporters, he condemned the action and accused the Executive of fueling the conflict.
“I am extremely disappointed. We have on numerous times asked the Executive Branch that the rule of law must prevail. The disappointing part is we see members of the executive, and we see the police brutalizing lawmakers, which is an indication that the so-called absentee lawmakers are getting aid and comfort from the executive branch in this treasonable plot. It is very unfortunate because it is not the right thing for our democracy. We call on all sides to step back and obey the rule of law, obey the precepts of the Supreme Court who is the final arbiter,” the Speaker said.
He added: “There are attempts to nuance the decision of the Supreme Court. Let me say this as a well-trained lawyer, the Supreme Court said a sitting of the Plenary of the House of Representatives is composed of the sample majority as in article 33 and the Speaker as in 49. The Supreme Court went on to say any sitting action that emanates from there and not in conformity with article 33 and 49 is illegal.”
The Speaker said all across the world, legislators quarrel and later resolve without the interference of the police or security forces. But members of the Majority Bloc, with the backing of the Executive, are unleashing the police to brutalize them. he said unlike him and members of the Pro-Koffa Group, the Majority also invite huge number of police on the grounds of the Capitol Building to rig havoc on lawmakers who not aligning and their staffers.
I am extremely disappointed. We have on numerous times asked the Executive Branch that the rule of law must prevail… The disappointing part is we see members of the executive, and we see the police brutalizing lawmakers, which is an indication that the so-called absentee lawmakers are getting aid and comfort from the executive branch in this treasonable plot. It is very unfortunate because it is not the right thing for our democracy. We call on all sides to step back and obey the rule of law, obey the precepts of the Supreme Court who is the final arbiter.
Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, Speaker, House of Representatives, 55th Legislature
He said police beat lawmakers including Rep. Luther Collin of Gbarpolu County with batons and was hospitalized. Images of staffers with bandages were seen on social media.
“They were brutalized by forces of the Liberia National police. The police are a party now by virtue of the fact,” he said.
McGill’s condemns Police brutality
In the wake of a violent clash between police officers and lawmakers at the Capitol Building on Monday, Margibi County Senator Nathaniel McGill has condemned what he called “police brutality” against elected officials.
For the first time in Liberia’s history, McGill said lawmakers were subjected to physical assault by law enforcement officers, a development he described as a grave injustice to the nation’s democracy.
The senator, visibly angered by the events, emphasized that the Capitol Building is a sacred ground for the people, representing the will of the electorate. “The Capitol Building is the people’s ground, and unless police intervention is officially requested by the proper authorities, any intrusion or attack on lawmakers is a blatant violation of the separation of powers,” McGill said.
McGill criticized the silence of his colleagues and others who have failed to speak out against the police’s actions, particularly when many lawmakers were directly affected by the violence. “Many are silent, pretending this does not concern them simply because they are not directly impacted,” he said. “But this is a threat to our democracy, and it concerns us all.”
The senator called for full accountability, specifically targeting Police Director Gregory Coleman. He demanded that the police chief be held responsible for what he referred to as an “unlawful invasion” of the legislative space.
McGill vowed to take the matter to the Senate Plenary, filing a formal complaint against the police action and calling for a full-scale investigation. “This is an unprecedented act that undermines the essence of our democracy and disrespects the very representatives of the people,” he said. “We cannot allow such violations to go unanswered.”
Also weighing in on the issue, former Rep. Acarous Moses Gray accused President Boakai of being the mastermind of the police brutality against the lawmakers.
He said: “President Joseph Boakai of being the Boakai today provided straight instruction to police officers that brutalized our lawmakers. Tomorrow there could be a repeat and as such we are calling on all supporters not to hesitate in protecting our own. Enough is enough and if President Boakai requests for a bitter Liberia like his people are doing, we should correct his mistakes by protecting the rule of law as of tomorrow Tuesday and so on.”
UP denies connection to Speaker Koffa’s death threat
Monday’s incident happened after the Office of House Speaker Koffa reported a death threat allegedly sent to the Speaker via an unknown number, warning him to resign or face fatal consequences.
The threatening statement read: “Koffa, the Speaker job is for the UP. Our party won’t sit there and reward its enemies. We will kill you if we have to. Hint to the wise is sufficient. Resign now!!!”
However, the Unity Party, in a statement issued on Monday, said it unequivocally condemns any form of threat or violence against any individual, especially against a public official.
“As a party rooted in the principles of peace and reconciliation, we firmly state that the Unity Party, under the leadership of H.E. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., would never resort to threatening the life of any Liberian. These allegations are baseless and lack merit,” the party said.
