George Weah - The African Mirror

Jan

25

2024

Liberia transferred power peacefully again: 3 reasons the calm is holding, and one red flag

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

JOSEPH Boakai was sworn in as Liberia’s 26th president on 22 January 2024. Boakai secured a six-year term of office after defeating incumbent president George Weah in a keenly contested November 2023 poll with 50.9% of the votes cast. The West African country of 5 million people reached a major milestone on 17 November 2023, when Weah, of the Congress for Democratic Change, conceded defeat to the Unity Party candidate. CHARLES WRATTO, Associate Professor of Peace, Politics, and Conflict Studies, Babes Bolyai University Weah scored 49.1% of votes cast and lost the tight presidential run-off, which the EU described as…

Dec

21

2023

By The African Mirror

President Weah steps in to reverse Liberia’s U.N. vote against Gaza ceasefire

NEWS

LIBERIAN President George Weah has intervened to reverse his country's vote against a U.N. resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the West African nation's information ministry said. Liberia was the only African state and one of only ten countries of the 193-member U.N. General Assembly to reject the United Nation's December 12 call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants that was backed by 153 countries. The ministry said the Liberian diplomats responsible for voting did so without the backing of Weah, who as president has the final say over Liberia's foreign policy. Weah "has…

Nov

21

2023

By ALPHONSO TOWEH

Liberia’s President-elect Boakai to review mining concessions

NEWS

LIBERIAN President-elect Joseph Boakai, who defeated President George Weah in the November 14 presidential runoff, says his administration will take a close look at mining concessions to ensure they benefit the country. Boakai, 78, a former vice president who lost to Weah in the 2017 runoff and campaigned on a promise to "rescue" Liberia, told Reuters in an interview on Sunday evening that he expected a lot of challenges, particularly with the economy. "The first step of rescuing Liberia is taking it from these people. It has been rescued. The next thing is to deal with the issues that have…

Nov

19

2023

By CARIELLE DOE and ALPHONSO TOWEH

Peaceful Transition of Power: Liberian president concedes defeat

NEWS

LIBERIA President George Weah has conceded election defeat to opposition leader Joseph Boakai after a tight race, ending a presidency marred by graft allegations but helping to ensure a smooth transition of power in the once volatile African nation. Boakai, 78, a former vice president who lost to Weah in the 2017 election, led with 50.9% of the vote over Weah's 49.1%, with nearly all the votes counted, the country's elections commission said on Friday. The result marks a stark turnaround from 2017, when global soccer legend Weah, buoyed by a wave of hope, trounced Boakai with 62 percent of…

Nov

19

2023

By CARIELLE DOE and EDWARD MCALLISTER

After decades in the wings, Liberia’s quiet man Boakai set for presidency

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

WHEN Joseph Boakai won a place at Liberia's prestigious College of West Africa in the 1950s, he helped pay his fees by working as the school janitor, cleaning floors and toilets at night and studying by day, his spokesman Amara Konneh told Reuters. Now Boakai, a 78-year-old political veteran, is set to become Liberia's president after a narrow victory in Tuesday's run-off vote over former soccer star incumbent George Weah, who conceded defeat late on Friday as the streets of the capital Monrovia erupted in celebration. Boakai's win marks the high point in a long career, much of it spent within touching…

Nov

17

2023

By The African Mirror

Liberia opposition leader takes slight lead in run-off vote – early results

NEWS

LIBERIAN opposition leader Joseph Boakai has a slight lead over President George Weah in a run-off election after results from about 22% of polling stations, the West African country's elections commission said. Boakai and Weah emerged neck-and-neck from the first round of the presidential election but below the 50% needed to secure an outright victory. The run-off is also expected to be closely fought. Boakai is so far on 50.71% of the vote, while Weah has 49.29%, the commission said, based on results tallied from 22.33% of polling stations. Weah has asked voters for more time to make good on…

Nov

15

2023

By ALPHONSO TOWEH and CARIELLE DOE

Liberia counts votes in presidential runoff as many hope for change

NEWS

BALLOT counting was underway in Liberia on Tuesday in a run-off election between President George Weah and former Vice President Joseph Boakai, in what is expected to be a closely fought vote. Former soccer star Weah, 57, who came to power in 2018 after beating Boakai, won just 7,000 more votes than career politician Boakai in the October poll. Weah failed to reach the 50% needed to secure an outright victory in October. Turnout appeared lighter on Tuesday in Monrovia, the capital, compared with the first round of voting, a Reuters reporter said. Several polls closed on time without people still…

Oct

20

2023

By The African Mirror

Liberia set for presidential run-off

NEWS

LIBERIA'S presidential election was still on track for a run-off after nearly complete provisional results showed President George Weah and opposition leader Joseph Boakai neck-and-neck, below the threshold needed to avoid a second round. Following the October 10 general election, Weah holds a slim lead with 43.84% of the vote, while Boakai has 43.44%, according to tallied results from 99.93% of polling places, the West African nation's election commission said. To avoid a run-off, the winner must secure more than 50% of the votes cast. The election commission said on Tuesday that ballots would be re-cast in two polling places…

Oct

17

2023

By The African Mirror

President Weah, opposition leader Boakai nearly tied in Liberia presidential race

NEWS

LIBERIA'S President George Weah and opposition leader Joseph Boakai are nearly tied in the race for the presidency following an October 10 election, provisional results published by the West African nation's election commission showed on Sunday. Weah holds a slim lead at 43.80% of the vote, while Boakai has 43.54%, according to tallied results from 72.92% of polling places, the commission said. To avoid a runoff, the winner must secure more than 50% of the votes cast. Liberia's opposition Unity Party leader Joseph Boakai casts his vote during the presidential elections in Monrovia, Liberia October 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer

Oct

12

2023

By CARIELLE DOE and ALPHONSO TOWEH

Liberia counts votes as President Weah seeks second term

NEWS

VOTE counting was underway in Liberia during an election in which President George Weah is seeking a second term after six years marred by corruption allegations and abiding economic hardship in Africa's oldest independent republic. Around 2.4 million people were eligible to vote in the West African nation still struggling to emerge from two civil wars that killed over 250,000 people between 1989 and 2003 and from a 2013-16 Ebola epidemic that killed thousands. "I am here to elect a good leader who will lead our country. A leader that will make school fees affordable for children to attend," said…