Liberians are heading to the polls to decide whether to give former footballer George Weah another shot at being president or to elect political veteran Joseph Boakai despite his age. The run-off is expected to be a close one between the two rivals, who also faced off in 2017 when Weah won in the second round with over 61 percent of the votes. In the first round of voting on October 10, Weah, 57, and Boakai, 78, were neck and neck with more than 43 percent each, with Weah taking a 7,126-vote lead.
This year’s election is the first since the United Nations ended its peacekeeping mission in Liberia in 2018, following two civil wars that claimed over 250,000 lives between 1989 and 2003. Observers are stressing the importance of maintaining peace and accepting the final results.
More than 2.4 million people are registered to vote, and they will choose between an incumbent who remains popular among young people but has a controversial record in office, and an old hand who served as the vice president under Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first woman president, from 2006 to 2018. Boakai has held various positions in the public and private sectors, but his age is seen as a disadvantage.
The electoral commission has 15 days to publish the results, but it could happen sooner, according to one of its officials, Samuel Cole.
Since the first-round results, the two political camps have been focused on securing the votes of supporters of the 18 candidates who did not make it through. Turnout is also expected to be a significant factor, with predictions of a lower turnout than the record 78.86 percent in the first round.
Weah, who grew up in the Monrovia slums and became the only African to win football’s most prestigious individual award, the Ballon d’Or, is widely seen as approachable and peaceful. He claims to have supported education, built roads and hospitals, and brought electricity into homes. However, his critics argue that he is out of touch with the realities of skyrocketing prices and shortages. More than a fifth of Liberians live on less than $2.15 a day, according to the World Bank.
Boakai has accused Weah of corruption, which is widespread in Liberia and has reportedly worsened during Weah’s presidency, according to Transparency International. Boakai has formed alliances with local figures, including former warlord and senator Prince Johnson, who supported Weah six years ago. Clashes during the campaign resulted in several deaths and raised concerns about post-election violence.
Boakai’s camp has also raised concerns about irregularities during the first round. International observers have praised the smooth running of the first-round vote, but the campaign was also marked by disinformation. The United States has warned that it could restrict visas for those believed to be responsible for undermining democracy in Liberia through the spread of misinformation.