Former Chelsea and Man City striker George Weah stepped out in front of a packed stadium today, 15 years after retiring from football - not to play a match, but to become the president of Liberia.
His inauguration this morning, following the departure of his predecessor, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, marks the first peaceful transfer from one elected president to another in the African state’s modern history.
“I promise to be the agent of positive change,” the 51-year-old told the crowd at the Samuel Doe stadium, less than ten miles from the poor Clara Town district of the capital city where he grew up.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Weah’s rise from humble beginnings resonated with younger voters keen to uproot the privileged elite who have dominated Liberian politics.
In the October elections, Weah “rode on a wave of support from young Liberians in the country where more than half of the population is under 35”, Bloomberg reports.
“This victory would not have been possible without the youth of this country, the women of this country who made their living selling in the market,” Weah said during his inaugural address. “This is your government.”
“Nobody doubts his ability to motivate and inspire,” says the BBC. “The unknown quantity is his capacity to administer effectively.”
Years of civil war followed by the ebola crisis of 2014-2016 have stunted Liberia’s economic growth, leading to knock-on effects for public services such as healthcare. Corruption remains stubbornly endemic.
Weah’s vice-presidential pick, senator Jewel Howard-Taylor, is the ex-wife of warlord Charles Taylor, now serving a 50-year sentence for war crimes at HMP Frankland in County Durham.
-
Political cartoons for January 17Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include hard hats, compliance, and more
-
Ultimate pasta alla NormaThe Week Recommends White miso and eggplant enrich the flavour of this classic pasta dish
-
Death in Minneapolis: a shooting dividing the USIn the Spotlight Federal response to Renee Good’s shooting suggest priority is ‘vilifying Trump’s perceived enemies rather than informing the public’
-
Why Greenland’s natural resources are nearly impossible to mineThe Explainer The country’s natural landscape makes the task extremely difficult
-
Iran cuts internet as protests escalateSpeed Reada Government buildings across the country have been set on fire
-
US nabs ‘shadow’ tanker claimed by RussiaSpeed Read The ship was one of two vessels seized by the US military
-
How Bulgaria’s government fell amid mass protestsThe Explainer The country’s prime minister resigned as part of the fallout
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
