By Editorial,
Liberian President George Weah has been hailed for his sportsmanship for conceding to his rival in the presidential race – from across the political divide and the region.
The former football star, who has served as Liberia’s president since 2018, said that was a time for graciousness in defeat, a time to place their country above party, and patriotism above personal interest.
The 57-year-old’s phone call to congratulate Joseph Boakai on Friday night has saved the country, which has a history of brutal civil conflict from a weekend of tension.
Liberian human rights advocate Hassan Bility told the BBC that those were great times in Liberia and Africa because such action on the part of a sitting president was very rare.
He is the director of the Global Justice and Research Project which has been documenting evidence of war crimes committed during two civil wars, in which an estimated 250,000 died.
For him, Mr Weah’s concession in the second round – three days before the official results are due to be announced – was not only the action of a great sportsman but “a high mark of statesmanship and peace”. END