Joseph Boakai had a lead of just over 28,000 votes after some 1.6 million ballots were counted. His opponent, against whom he is taking his revenge, has already congratulated him on his victory.
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It is an election whose outcome breaks with the coups d’état that have occurred in recent months in West Africa. The outgoing president of Liberia, George Weah, conceded, on the night of Friday November 17 to Saturday November 18, his defeat in Tuesday’s presidential election against opponent Joseph Boakai. The latter takes charge of this English-speaking country of around five million inhabitants, one of the poorest in the world, for six years.
Joseph Boakai had a lead of just over 28,000 votes after some 1.6 million ballots were counted. The results published Friday by the electoral commission, after votes in more than 99% of offices, gave 50.89% to Joseph Boakai, 78, and 49.11% to George Weah. He is taking his revenge against the man who largely beat him in the second round in 2017 with more than 61% of the votes, but who his detractors accuse of not having kept his promises to fight poverty and corruption.
“A lead that we cannot catch up”
“Tonight, the CDC lost the election but Liberia won. It’s time for elegance in defeat,” said George Weah, about his party, in a speech on public radio. “The results announced this evening, although not final, indicate that Joseph Boakai has a lead that we cannot make up for. I have spoken to President-elect Joseph Boakai to congratulate him on his victory”added this man, elected in 2017, former football glory.
Around 2.4 million Liberians were called to the polls on Tuesday and participation exceeded 65% according to figures published on the electoral commission website. Dozens of supporters of Joseph Boakai celebrated his victory on Friday, dancing in front of one of his party offices in the Fiama district of Monrovia, noted an AFP correspondent.