Georges Weah is a candidate for his own succession. The current president of Liberia has announced his intention to stand in the presidential election scheduled for next October. In his annual address to parliament, the 56-year-old leader defended his policies and promised a new mandate “rich in opportunity, focused on transformation and development”.
“My dear fellow citizens, I will come to you shortly to ask you to renew, for a second term, the mandate you entrusted to me six years ago. Here and today, let me assure you that the state of our nation is strong! The state of our nation is stable! The state of our nation is vibrant! The state of our nation is young! The state of our nation is peaceful and secure. We have the intention to keep it that way,” said George Manneh Weah, head of Liberia since 2018, to MPs.
Marked by civil wars and the epidemics of Ebola and more recently Covid-19, Liberia has fragile economic health. About 27% of its five million inhabitants live below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.
The leader’s numerous trips abroad, including to Qatar for the World Cup, therefore did not please part of the Liberian population, who reproached the former footballer for being disconnected from their reality.