Joseph Boakai, left, and George Weah. Image by CNN
President George Weah of Liberia concedes victory following a close run-off election.
President George Weah of Liberia has acknowledged the victory of opposition candidate Joseph Boakai following a closely contested run-off election.
Weah, a former soccer star, reached out to Boakai after the National Elections Commission (NEC) released preliminary results on Friday.
Boakai, a 78-year-old former vice president of Liberia, secured a majority with 51% of the votes, as officially confirmed by the elections commission on Monday.
In a national address, President George Weah acknowledged the provisional results, stating, “The results announced tonight, though not final, indicate that Ambassador Joseph N. Boakai is in a lead that we cannot surpass.
Therefore, a few minutes ago, I spoke with President-elect Joseph N. Boakai to congratulate him on his victory. Tonight, as we acknowledge the results, let us also recognize that the true winners of these elections are the people of Liberia.”
In his victory speech on Monday, Boakai expressed pride and satisfaction in being endorsed by his supporters as the country’s next president.
He emphasized his top priority of pursuing national prosperity, asserting an ambitious recovery program for economic growth, robust youth training, decent job creation, and social protection for the elderly and disabled citizens.
President Weah, who assumed office in 2018, will step down in January. The run-off was triggered after Weah, 57, secured victory in an October poll with a narrow margin of 7,000 votes over his political rival, Boakai.
However, he fell short of the required 50% threshold for an outright win. Weah sought reelection for a second six-year term amid a first tenure marked by corruption scandals and allegations of mismanagement.
President George Weah has received commendation for promptly conceding, thereby ensuring a peaceful transfer of power—a noteworthy achievement in Liberia’s delicate democracy, marked by a history of civil war and the assassination of previous leaders in office.
The region has also witnessed a series of coups in West and Central Africa in recent years.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu was among the first to extend congratulations to the newly elected President, praising Weah for setting a “sterling example, undiluted patriotism, and statesmanship.
” A statement from Nigeria’s presidency emphasized Weah’s defiance of the stereotype that deems peaceful transitions of power untenable in West Africa.