MONROVIA, Liberia — On Wednesday, emergency responders in Liberia worked to contain a fire that erupted within the parliament building, coinciding with ongoing opposition demonstrations that have now entered their second day.

Authorities in the capital, Monrovia, have yet to determine the fire’s cause. President Joseph Boakai visited the site and has since mandated an investigation into the incident, expressing his outrage over what he termed the “wanton destruction in this country.”

The protests are rooted in attempts to oust the parliament’s speaker, Konati Koffa, who has faced serious allegations of corruption. Protesters are also demanding the resignation of the president.

On Tuesday, law enforcement detained dozens of protesters and resorted to deploying tear gas to control the demonstrators. This incident marks the second time in a week that the parliament building has been engulfed in flames, although there is currently no evidence linking both fires. Reports from local media indicate that police have apprehended some individuals who were present in the vicinity during the fire’s outbreak.

These protests follow a prolonged period of unrest regarding the potential removal of Koffa, a member of an opposition party, amid allegations of corrupt practices. According to Liberia’s legal framework, the parliament speaker can be removed with a two-thirds majority vote from the House. However, without the needed backing, legislative operations have come to a standstill, hindering the government’s ability to pass the much-awaited annual budget.