The brand new president is anticipated to sort out poverty and corruption that flourished beneath his predecessor, George Weah.
Joseph Boakai has been sworn in as Liberia’s president on Monday following his election victory over former soccer star George Weah, with the problem of tackling poverty and corruption.
The 79-year-old narrowly beat former Ballon d’Or winner Weah in November’s run-off ballot with 50.64 % of the votes to 49.36 %.
He was sworn in for a six-year time period throughout a ceremony in parliament within the capital Monrovia at 10 am (10:00 GMT) within the presence of a number of international leaders and diplomatic delegations.
Boakai has 40 years of political expertise already behind him.
He was vp from 2006 to 2018 beneath Liberia’s first feminine president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, earlier than being crushed by Weah within the 2017 election.
Hopes and guarantees
November’s ballot within the West African nation was peaceable in a area that has seen a succession of army coups in recent times in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Niger.
However the small nation of 5 million individuals has been plagued with corruption, excessive ranges of poverty, and a weak justice system, after years of civil struggle.
Impunity associated to crimes dedicated throughout these civil wars is one other unresolved difficulty.
Boakai aligned himself with native barons throughout his election marketing campaign, together with former warlord Prince Johnson.
Johnson, who enjoys sturdy assist within the northeastern Nimba County, backed Weah in 2017.
The previous warlord was additionally famously seen ingesting a beer in a video whereas his males tortured to loss of life former President Samuel Doe, in September 1990.
Johnson, who’s beneath US sanctions, nominated certainly one of his associates, Jeremiah Koung, as Boakai’s vp.
Given his lengthy profession in politics, Liberians anticipate Boakai to create jobs, enhance the economic system, strengthen establishments, and struggle corruption – which was certainly one of his key marketing campaign pledges.
“Expectations of Boakai’s presidency are high,” Larry Nyanquoi, a former native official in Nimba County, advised the AFP information company.
Boakai is “seen as somebody who has not engaged in corruption and one who has tried to live the simplest possible life.”
Liberians additionally anticipate Boakai to make sure a secure provide of electrical energy and water, and to enhance the street infrastructure to draw funding, Nyanquoi mentioned.
The outgoing authorities didn’t stay as much as its dedication to determine a struggle and financial crimes courtroom and to finish impunity within the nation.
The mysterious deaths of 4 authorities auditors additionally raised suspicions.
“Every leader has promised to crack down on corruption and they have failed, so he has to say something different,” Abdulla Kiatamba, an analyst at Geo Baraka Group of Strategists, mentioned of Boakai.
“They have promised improved economic conditions and they have also failed so he has to say and do something that will be different.”
