In a tense battle for leadership, Liberia stands divided as opposition leader Joseph Boakai inches ahead of President George Weah in the run-off election, according to the country’s elections commission. Weah’s apparent slip in popularity sparks debates on patriotism, with some questioning his commitment to Liberia due to his son’s absence from the national football team.
With Boakai holding a slight lead of 50.71% over Weah’s 49.29% from a partial count of polling stations, the race remains fiercely contested. Weah, seeking re-election, has pleaded with voters for more time to fulfill his promises of combating corruption and uplifting livelihoods in a nation still reeling from the aftermath of civil wars and the devastating Ebola epidemic.
Boakai, aged 78 and defeated by Weah in the 2017 election, champions the need to rescue Liberia from what he terms as mismanagement under Weah’s administration. As the nation waits anxiously for the final results, the question remains: will Weah manage to hold onto his presidency amid this tight race?