by Carielle Doe and Alphonso Toweh
MONROVIA (Reuters) – Liberia’s outgoing President George Weah conceded defeat in the presidential election on Friday after a tight race, which should ensure a smooth transfer of power in the West African country.
Joseph Boakai, former vice-president, won the second round of voting with 50.9% of the vote against 49.1% for George Weah, Liberia’s electoral commission announced on Friday.
“I spoke a few moments ago with President-elect Joseph Boakai whom I congratulated on his victory,” George Weah said on national radio. “I call on you to follow my example and accept the result of the election.”
Liberia is still struggling to recover from two devastating civil wars between 1989 and 2003 which left more than 250,000 dead. An Ebola epidemic between 2013 and 2016 also caused thousands of deaths.
Many voters felt that George Weah had failed to honor his promises to reduce poverty and improve the country’s infrastructure.
Supporters of Joseph Boakai gathered in the capital, Monrovia, where they danced, shouted and blew horns in the rain shortly after the result was announced.
Arkoi Sarkor told Reuters she voted for Joseph Boakai, even though she was unable to find a job under President George Weah.
“I have high hopes because I know that (Joseph) Boakai is a man of principles, and I know that when he is here, he will bring change,” she said. “Some things that weren’t done, that weren’t right, he’s going to put them back in place, I’m hopeful.”
(Reporting Carielle Doe and Alphonso Toweh, written by Edward McAllister and Anait Miridzhanian; French version Camille Raynaud)
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