George Weah: the triumph of defeat

Published on November 20, 2023

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If democracy is the worst system of government except all others, as British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said, perhaps its health can be measured by the spectacle of a president beaten in the elections. It was with speed and fair play that the outgoing president of Liberia, George Weah, conceded his defeat in the November 14 election, well before the electoral commission born publishes the final results.

At the end of a second round which was rather peaceful and transparent, the head of state, elected in 2017, declared on public radio on November 17: ” THE CDC [Congress for Democratic Change, son parti] lost the election, but Liberia won. It’s time to be elegant in defeat.” Weah’s congratulations to the new elected official had All of an exchange of jerseys at the end of one of those football matches that lit up the 40th Golden Ball in History.

Boakai promises an “inclusive” government

At 78 years old, Joseph Boakai therefore becomes, with 50.64 % of the votes, and for six years, the third democratically elected president of a country of around 5 million inhabitants traumatized by a long civil war, which left more than 250,000 dead between 1989 and 2003. To finish giving the appearance of civility to a result which nevertheless sounds like a revenge of 2017 (he was then beaten by Weah), the one who was the vice-president by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf promises the formation of an “inclusive” government. History will tell whether an excess of good feelings does not kill good feelings.

To read : [Vidéo] Five things to know about George Weah, who is putting his mandate on the line in Liberia

The current alternation contrasts not only with the crises of sad memory that Liberia has gone through, but also with the coups d’état that have occurred in recent months in Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Enough to reassure the “democratophiles”, assailed by doubts about the upcoming Senegalese and Ivorian elections. At 57, luminary of the world of sport, singer in his spare time and now a good loser, George Weah should not be long has bounce.