Video Emerges As Liberia’s President-Elect, Boakai Suffers Heat Stroke During Inauguration

The inauguration speech of Liberian President Joseph Nyumah Boakai was halted on Monday as the newly sworn-in leader suffered heat exhaustion at the ceremony held in the national capital of Monrovia, local media reported.

Liberia’s president-elect Joseph Boakai, who defeated President George Weah in a runoff election gives a speech after he was sworn in as president during the inauguration ceremony in Monrovia, Liberia January 22, 2024. REUTERS/Carielle Doe

Boakai had been delivering his inaugural address, which had already exceeded 30 minutes when he began to show signs of distress. The temperature Monday afternoon at the Capitol Building in Monrovia, the venue of the presidential inauguration, was 29 degrees Celsius.

The 79-year-old Boakai appeared fatigued and unsteady on his feet while reading his inauguration speech, local online newspaper Front Page Africa reported. Concerned aides and presidential security guards rushed to his aid when he faltered during the speech.

Meanwhile, the new Liberian leader took the oath of office at noon in a colorful inauguration ceremony attended by several foreign leaders and diplomatic delegations.

Dressed in traditional Liberian attire, Boakai expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the Liberian people and outlined his vision for the nation’s future. He stressed the importance of national unity, reconciliation, and economic development.

“We will bestow inclusive governance as our watchword,” he said, emphasizing his “rescue mission” for the West African country.

Boakai also said his administration will focus on the “national reconstruction and renewal” of Liberia.

Before his successful bid for the presidency, he served as vice president from 2006 to 2018 under the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected woman president

Liberia's🇱🇷 new president Joseph Boakai nearly faints at inauguration and had to be helped away from the podium after he paused twice during his inauguration speech.

Boakai who was surrounded by his aides and members of the executive protection service was escorted from the… pic.twitter.com/lM9qL9RZV8

— Kennedy Wandera (@KennedyWandera_) January 22, 2024