Liberian President Joseph Boakai Experiences Heat Stroke During Inauguration

Liberia’s newly inaugurated President, Joseph Boakai, encountered a heat stroke while delivering his inauguration speech on Monday. The outdoor ceremony in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, took place amid sweltering heat, and Boakai, aged 79, had to be led off the podium as the ceremony was abruptly curtailed.

Reports from local media indicated that Joseph Boakai paused during his speech, prompting aides to rush and assist him. Although he resumed speaking briefly, he stopped again, and aides helped him move away from the podium, bringing the ceremony to an unexpected halt.

Boakai defeated George Weah in a runoff election in November, and concerns had been raised by some of his opponents regarding his age and stamina during the election campaign. Boakai’s spokesperson, Mohammed Ali, explained that the heat during the event contributed to the exhaustion, emphasizing that Boakai has been stabilized.

Despite the unforeseen interruption, Boakai had already taken the oath of office before being assisted away from the podium. While the planned lunch proceeded as scheduled, Boakai’s whereabouts were not immediately clarified after the incident.