LIBERIA: Weah to face Boakai in presidential runoff

Former football star George Weah and Vice-President Joseph Boakai are headed for a run-off in Liberia’s presidential election. Nearly all the results from Tuesday’s poll have been counted, the election commission says. Mr Weah, the first African to win the Ballon D’Or football award, is leading with 39%, while Mr Boakai is in second place […]

Former football star George Weah and Vice-President Joseph Boakai are headed for a run-off in Liberia’s presidential election.

Nearly all the results from Tuesday’s poll have been counted, the election commission says.

Mr Weah, the first African to win the Ballon D’Or football award, is leading with 39%, while Mr Boakai is in second place with 29%. A second round between the pair has been set for 7 November.

They lead the field of 20 candidates who competed to succeed Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first female elected president and a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

A candidate needed more than 50% of the votes for victory in the first round.

Fewer than 5% of polling stations have yet to declare results, and lawyer Charles Brumskine is in third place with 9.8%.