Joseph Boakai has been officially inaugurated as Liberia’s president, marking his victory over former football star George Weah in November’s runoff election. The 79-year-old, who served as vice president from 2006 to 2018, faces the formidable challenges of addressing poverty and corruption that thrived under his predecessor, George Weah. Boakai’s inauguration ceremony took place in the capital, Monrovia, with foreign leaders and diplomatic delegations in attendance. Despite concerns about his age and a momentary pause during his speech, attributed to heat exhaustion, Boakai is expected to lead efforts to rejuvenate the economy, combat corruption, and address longstanding issues related to the country’s civil wars. His alignment with influential figures like former warlord Prince Johnson adds complexity to his presidency, and Liberians are looking to him to fulfill promises of economic improvement and good governance.
