Joseph Boakai was declared winner of Liberia’s presidential election
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Political veteran Joseph Boakai was on Monday declared winner of Liberia’s presidential election, beating incumbent George Weah, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) mentioned after finishing the poll depend.
Mr. Boakai gained with 50.64 % of the vote, towards 49.36 % of the vote for former worldwide soccer star Mr. Weah, Davidetta Browne Lansanah, president of the fee, informed reporters.
Mr. Boakai gained with solely a 20,567-vote margin.
Mr. Weah had already conceded defeat on Friday night, primarily based on the outcomes of greater than 99.98 % of the polling stations.
The outgoing President and former soccer star gained reward from overseas on Monday for conceding and selling a non-violent transition in a area marred by coups.
“Liberians have once again demonstrated that democracy is alive in the ECOWAS region and that change is possible through peaceful means,” the Economic Community of West African States mentioned in a press release.
Since 2020, ECOWAS states have seen abrupt regime modifications with navy forces seizing energy by drive in 4 of the fifteen member nations: Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Niger.
The election six years in the past of Mr. Weah – the primary African footballer to win each FIFA’s World Player of the Year trophy and the Ballon d’Or – had sparked excessive hopes of change in Liberia, which remains to be reeling from back-to-back civil wars and the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic.
Supporters of Liberia’s opposition Unity Party rejoice after Liberia President George Weah concedes election defeat to Joseph Boakai in Monrovia.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters
But critics have accused his authorities of corruption and him of failing to maintain a promise to enhance the lives of the poorest.
While his celebration misplaced, “Liberia has won,” Mr. Weah had mentioned on radio.
Mr. Weah mentioned he had spoken to the person he known as the “president-elect” to congratulate him and urged his personal supporters to simply accept the election end result.
“This is a time for graciousness in defeat,” he mentioned, including “our time will come again”.
The African Union despatched its congratulations to the president-elect on Monday.
AU chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat additionally known as on “all parties to continue to display maturity and embrace dialogue to consolidate democracy”.
‘Defied the stereotype’
The West African bloc additionally mentioned that the post-election section was “crucial”, and known as on “the people of Liberia to maintain and safeguard peace and security”.
However, the electoral fee head mentioned that on Friday it had acquired two appeals from Weah’s celebration in regards to the conduct of the election in Nimba County.
The fee has 30 days to research and attain a call, she mentioned.
Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, who led a mediation mission for the election, mentioned he was “deeply pleased with the successful outcome of the democratic process”, in feedback posted on X, previously Twitter.
He went on to congratulate Boakai, urging him “to be magnanimous in victory and seek to continue the efforts to unite” Liberia.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who’s a heavyweight within the West African bloc, recommended Weah’s concession saying it had averted any type of socio-political disaster.
“He has defied the stereotype that peaceful transitions of power are untenable in West Africa,” Tinubu mentioned.
Several presidential elections within the area are upcoming in 2024, together with polls in Senegal, Ghana and Mauritania, in addition to military-ruled Mali and Burkina Faso.
Source: www.thehindu.com
