Weah Concedes to Boakai in Election

George Weah concedes defeat to former Vice President Boakai in Liberia elections.

In a historic turn of events, Liberian President George Weah has conceded defeat to his challenger, former Vice President Joseph Boakai, in the recent presidential elections. Weah, a former football star who took office in 2018, called Boakai to congratulate him on his victory, acknowledging the will of the Liberian people.

Boakai secured an unassailable lead of 28,000 votes, with almost all ballots counted, according to the announcement from the electoral commission. The 78-year-old political veteran garnered 50.89% of the votes, while President Weah trailed with 49.11%. Weah, who initially won the presidency in 2018 with overwhelming support, faced criticism during his tenure for perceived failures in addressing corruption, rising prices, and economic challenges.

In a magnanimous concession speech, President Weah expressed his utmost respect for the democratic process and referred to Boakai as the “president-elect.” He acknowledged the deep division revealed by the closely contested race and urged Liberians to unite, emphasizing the paramount importance of unity for the nation’s well-being.

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The electoral commission declared results from 99.58% of polling stations, sparking celebrations in the capital, Monrovia. Boakai’s supporters, confident of his victory, gathered at his party’s headquarters, calling for President Weah’s departure and chanting slogans in reference to the election campaign.

The run-off election became necessary after neither candidate secured more than 50% of the vote in the first round last month, where 18 other candidates competed. President Weah emerged with a narrow lead of 7,000 votes in the initial vote, making this election the tightest presidential contest in Liberia since the civil war that ended just two decades ago.

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Boakai’s campaign centered on rescuing the nation from what he termed “mismanagement” under Weah’s administration. President Weah defended his achievements, including the introduction of free tuition for university students, dismissing Boakai’s allegations.

As Liberia navigates this pivotal transition, observers from the regional bloc Ecowas deemed the run-off largely peaceful, with isolated incidents leading to injuries and hospitalizations in some provinces. The nation now stands at a crossroads, with expectations high for the incoming administration to address the challenges and foster unity in post-war Liberia.

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