The counting of ballots for the second round of the presidential election in Liberia has just begun. Liberians are eagerly awaiting to know if George Weah, the former world football glory and current president of the country, will be re-elected or if his rival, Joseph Boakai, a veteran of Liberian politics, will take his place.
This second round promises to be close, the two candidates already being opposed during the 2017 presidential election. George Weah won this election with more than 61% of the votes. However, in this year’s first round, the two candidates came in neck and neck, with a gap of only 7,126 votes in favor of George Weah.
The counting of votes began just after the polling stations closed. The electoral commission has 15 days to publish the results, but it hopes to be able to do so more quickly.
Beyond the choice of the next president, this election is of particular importance for Liberia. The country, which experienced years of conflict and an Ebola epidemic, is now seeking stability and development. It is crucial that this election takes place peacefully and that the results are accepted by all.
Both candidates expressed confidence in their victory. George Weah, who retains his status as the only African to have been named Ballon d’Or, underlined the trust that Liberians have placed in him for his work. Joseph Boakai, for his part, accused the opposing camp of rigging the vote and affirmed that his supporters would carefully monitor the progress of the operations.
Liberia’s next president will face many challenges, including fighting corruption, developing infrastructure and improving living conditions for citizens. The Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has already warned against any unrest or violence and said it would hold those responsible for such acts to account.
We will therefore have to wait for the official results to know the name of the next president of Liberia. In the meantime, the population remains waiting, hoping that this election will be another step towards the stability and development of the country.