George Weah, Liberia’s current president and renowned football icon, gracefully conceded defeat on Friday evening as nearly complete returns unveiled opposition leader Joseph Boakai in the lead with 50.89 percent of the vote.
In a broadcast on national radio, Weah expressed, “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight the CDC (party) has lost the election, but Liberia has won. This is the time for graciousness in defeat, to prioritize national interest over personal interest.”
As reported by the electoral commission, tallying ballots from over 99 percent of polling stations, Weah secured 49.11 percent of the votes cast. Weah acknowledged speaking to Boakai to extend congratulations on his victory.
Addressing the nation, Weah recognized the voice of the Liberian people and underscored the closeness of the results, signifying a significant division within the country.
While approximately 2.4 million Liberians were eligible to vote on Tuesday, specific turnout figures have not been disclosed.
In a jubilant scene, dozens of Boakai’s supporters celebrated outside one of his party’s offices in the capital city, Monrovia.
These elections mark a historic moment as the first since the conclusion of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in 2018, established in the aftermath of two civil wars in Liberia between 1989 and 2003, resulting in the loss of over 250,000 lives.
