Ex-footballer Weah sworn in as president

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Photo: REUTERS[/caption]

Former international footballer George Weah has been sworn in as president of Liberia.

“I have spent many years of my life in stadiums, but today is a feeling like no other,” President Weah told crowds in the capital Monrovia. It is Liberia’s first transition between democratically-elected leaders since 1944. Mr Weah thanked his predecessor, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, for bringing peace to the country after years of civil war.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="720"] Euphoric fans witness Weah inauguration[/caption]
Tens of thousands of people attended the inauguration at the Samuel Doe Stadium in Monrovia, with many queuing for hours to enter.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="976"]Liberians cheer as they stand in line to enter the inauguration off the President-elect, George Weah, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe stadium, in Monrovia, Liberia, 22 January 2018. EPA[/caption]
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="976"]Liberians cheer as they stand in line to enter the inauguration off the President-elect, George Weah, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe stadium, in Monrovia, Liberia, 22 January 2018. EPA[/caption]
President Weah took the oath of office soon after 13:00GMT in front of an estimated 35,000 people.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="976"]Liberia's former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the new President elect George Weah are seen during his swearing-in ceremony at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Monrovia, Liberia, January 22, 2018. REUTERS[/caption]
Liberia’s outgoing President Sirleaf attended the ceremony. Mr Weah thanked her for “laying the foundations on which we can now stand in peace”.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="976"]Liberia's former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the new President elect George Weah speak during his swearing-in ceremony at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Monrovia, Liberia, January 22, 2018 REUTERS[/caption]
Presentational grey line

Seven things about George Weah:

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="976"]PSG George Weah (R) kicks the ball during the Champions league match Spartak Moscow - Paris-Saint-Germain, on September 28, 1994, in Moscow. AFP[/caption]
  • Born 1 October, 1966, grew up in a slum in Liberia’s capital
  • Signed by Arsene Wenger to Monaco from Cameroonian club Tonnerre Yaoundé
  • Made Monaco debut in 1987, went on to play for AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea
  • Only African to win Fifa World Player of the Year
  • First ran for president in 2005, losing to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
  • Graduated with a business degree from a US university after being accused of lacking education
  • Elected president in December 2017
Source: BBC
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