Boakai to be sworn in as Liberia president

Joseph Boakai is set to be sworn in as Liberia’s president following his election victory over former football star George Weah.

The 79-year-old narrowly beat former Ballon d’Or winner Weah in November’s run-off poll with 50.64 percent of the votes to 49.36 percent.

He will be sworn in for a six-year term during a ceremony in parliament in the capital Monrovia in the presence of several foreign leaders and diplomatic delegations.

November’s poll in the West African country was peaceful in a region that has seen a succession of military coups in recent years in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Niger.

ut the small nation of five million has been plagued with corruption, high levels of poverty and a weak justice system, after years of civil war and an Ebola outbreak.

Impunity related to crimes committed during those civil wars is another unresolved issue.Backed by ex-warlord –

Boakai aligned himself with local barons during his election campaign, including former warlord Prince Johnson.

Johnson, who enjoys strong support in the northeastern Nimba County, backed Weah in 2017.

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