Weah drops fraud allegations in interests of “genuine peace”

Liberian football legend and failed presidential hopeful, George Weah, dropped allegations of fraud in the November run-off poll in the interests of peace on Wednesday. “I am pleased to announce that the CDC will not exercise its option of taking the matter to the Supreme Court,” said Weah in a pre-prepared statement read out at his home on the outskirts of the war-blackened capital, Monrovia. Weah’s party, the Congress for Democratic Change, lodged allegations of fraud against winning rival Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf before the final results were tallied. But on Wednesday said he made his about turn in the interests of peace. “Our decision is based on our desire to see the Liberian people achieve durable and genuine peace and have the opportunity to carry on the business of national recovery and redemption in an atmosphere of tranquillity," said Weah sporting a dark safari suit and a smile. Peace-sealing elections were organised by the UN under the watchful eye of 15,000 peacekeeping troops. Sirleaf repeatedly dismissed the accusations of fraud in the second round run-off which gave her 59 percent of the vote and made her Africa’s first elected female president. Weah’s announcement comes days after the national electoral commission threw out the CDC’s fraud case. International mediators, including former Nigerian president Abdusalami Abubakar, have petitioned Weah not to exercise his right to appeal the decision through Liberia’s Supreme Court. The one time FIFA world footballer of the year gave a rabble-rousing speech earlier this month to supporters in which he claimed he was the rightful president of Liberia and threatened to block Sirleaf’s inauguration on the 16 January. After the speech, some pro-Weah youths took to the streets attacking police officers with rocks and smashing up vehicles. Forty people were arrested. The 39-year old millionaire Weah, who rose to fame from Monrovia’s slums, has a strong following among Liberia’s impoverished former combatants, many of whom were pulled out of school and forced to take up arms by zealous warlords. Harvard educated Sirleaf has promised a government of inclusion dedicated to rebuilding and reunifying the war-battered country. “Our mandate is to accommodate all those who are ready to work for peace and stability in a government of inclusion,” the former economist said last week. During the election campaigning, Sirleaf told reporters that she might even offer Weah a ministerial position such as minister for youth and sports. But Weah remained tight lipped on his future plans, saying only that his party would remain “a formidable political force” in post-conflict Liberia.