-Pres. Weah commits to VP Taylor presidential bid comes 2029.
By: Jerromie S. Walters
President George Weah has guaranteed his commitment to support the presidential bid of current Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, after his second term comes 2029.
As he believes in the tendency of democracy, and women’s political participation, the President says he has no intention of contesting for a third term, and he’s willing to support the Vice President, following the end of his second term.
This disclosure was made Tuesday. September 12, 2023, in David Dean’s Town, (Gold Camp) Bong County, during the President’s campaign tour.
“I believe in women’s participation, like you have a Vice President that been working with us and I pray that after our second term, in our third term, we will promote the Vice President so we can bring woman back on the stage.”
As it contradicts Liberia’s constitutional mandate of the presidency, the President said Liberians will be allowed to elect a new leader, and the CDC will also be allowed to support the Vice President in said endeavor. “I believe in democracy, I will not go third term, you will decide to carry someone from our party, and of course, I believe in women’s participation,” he stated.
Africa has experienced seven coups since August 2020. On July 26, 2023, Niger’s military announced that they overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum. General Abdourahamane Tiani becomes the new strongman of the country.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced on August 10 its intention to deploy a regional force to “restore constitutional order”, while continuing to favor the diplomatic route.
The military proposes a transition period of “three years” maximum before returning power to civilians.
Burkina Faso: two putsches in 8 months
On January 24, 2022, President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré was ousted from power by the military, Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was inaugurated president in February.
On September 30, Damiba was in turn dismissed from his position by the military, Captain Ibrahim Traoré was invested as transitional president until a presidential election scheduled for July 2024.
Sudan
On October 25, 2021, soldiers led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane chased out the transitional civilian leaders, who were supposed to lead the country towards democracy after 30 years of dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir, himself deposed in 2019.
Since April 15, 2023, a war due to a power struggle between General Burhane and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdane Daglo has killed at least 5,000 people in the country.
Guinea
On September 5, 2021, President Alpha Condé was overthrown by a military coup. On October 1, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya became president.
The military has promised to return the place to elected civilians by the end of 2024.
Mali: two coups in 9 months
On August 18, 2020, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was overthrown by the military, a transitional government was formed in October.
But on May 24, 2021, the military arrested the president and the Prime Minister. Colonel Assimi Goïta was inaugurated in June as transitional president.
The junta has committed to returning the place to civilians after the elections scheduled for February 2024.
With all of these, Liberia’s President George Weah has vowed to respect the Liberian law that calls for only two term (12years) for the presidency. Amid this, he has committed himself to supporting the Vice President specifically, if she desires to contest.
Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor has been working immensely with the current administration, and she has also been involved with a whole lot in women empowerment, education for both genders, employment, aids, and other meaningful interventions, since she ascended to the vice presidency.
Though she hasn’t disclosed her intention to contest in 2029, President George Weah has affirmed his commitment to her candidacy.
