On Friday, Liberia’s President George Weah gracefully accepted defeat in the election, conceding to opposition leader Joseph Boakai after a closely contested race. Boakai, a 78-year-old former vice president who lost to Weah in the 2017 election, secured victory with 50.9% of the vote, while Weah garnered 49.1%, according to the country’s elections commission.
This outcome represents a significant shift from the 2017 election when Weah, a global soccer legend, secured a landslide victory with 62% of the vote. However, disillusionment has grown since then, as challenges such as poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, and inadequate electricity supply persist.
The election, occurring 20 years after Liberia’s civil wars, held particular significance, marking the first time without the presence of the United Nations mission. Weah’s concession marks Liberia’s second democratic transfer of power in over seven decades.
The campaign period was marked by turmoil, resulting in several deaths and raising concerns about potential post-election unrest. Boakai’s supporters celebrated in the capital, Monrovia, after the near-final results were announced.
Joseph Boakai, despite being 21 years older than his opponent, emerged victorious. From 2006 to 2018, he served as vice president to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female head of state. Boakai now faces the task of leading Liberia, one of the world’s poorest countries, for the next six years. This victory signifies Boakai’s redemption against Weah, who had decisively defeated him in the 2017 election but faced criticism for unfulfilled promises to address poverty and corruption. The election results were notably closer this time, with the two candidates heading into the second round after a tight first round, where Weah held a narrow lead.
