Weah, Cummings Support Koffa Amid Trial
- Michael T
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
Liberia’s political crisis deepened on Monday as former president George Weah and Alternative National Congress (ANC) leader Alexander B. Cummings appeared together at Monrovia City Court, standing in solidarity with former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and several lawmakers accused of orchestrating a devastating fire at the Capitol Building last December. This rare show of unity among opposition leaders comes after months of political turmoil, marked by attempts to remove Koffa from his post and allegations that the judiciary is being used as a tool against those who challenge the executive.
Koffa, along with Representatives Abu B. Kamara, Dixon Seboe, Jacob Debee, and Priscilla Cooper, faces charges including arson, criminal facilitation, conspiracy, and attempted murder. The charges stem from a fire on 18 December 2024 that destroyed key sections of the Capitol Building, the seat of Liberia’s legislature. Police allege the blaze was a “coordinated and politically motivated” effort to sabotage the state, implicating Koffa as the central figure in the plot. Koffa and three co-defendants were remanded to Monrovia South Beach Prison over the weekend, spending two nights in detention before being released on a US$1.8 million property bond on Monday morning. The court has also imposed a travel ban on all five lawmakers.
The arson case follows a protracted power struggle in the House of Representatives, with unsuccessful attempts to oust Koffa as speaker since October 2024 by the Executive through the "majority bloc," a renegade faction of the House of Representatives. Many Liberians have denounced this move as illegal and unconstitutional. The dispute over his removal, which did not meet the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds majority vote, led to a legal standoff and heightened tensions between the legislative and executive branches. Koffa’s camp claims the executive, under President Joseph Boakai, has backed efforts to remove him and is now weaponising the judiciary to silence opposition voices. The ruling Unity Party and its allies argue that the law must take its course, insisting that “no one is above the law”.
The trial has galvanised Liberia’s fragmented opposition. Former president Weah, Cummings, and other leaders—including former vice president Jewel Howard-Taylor—have described the charges as “shameful” and “embarrassing”. The opposition has branded the detained lawmakers as “political prisoners” and accused the Boakai administration of selective justice and political persecution. There were scenes of emotional outpouring at South Beach Prison, with supporters weeping as Koffa and others were escorted into custody.
The case has become a flashpoint for debates about the rule of law and the independence of Liberia’s judiciary. “This is not just a choice. It is a test of national memory,” wrote opposition figure Musa Hassan Bility, reflecting widespread fears of political regression and institutional decay. The trial comes amid efforts by opposition leaders to forge a united front against the Boakai administration. A recent private meeting between Weah and Cummings reportedly focused on building a coalition to address growing public discontent and to challenge what they see as abuses of power.
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