By How 79-year-old new Liberian President nearly fainted during swearing-in
Ghazali Ibrahim
What was supposed to be the inauguration ceremony of Liberia’s new president, Joseph Boakai on Monday was cut short after the 79-year-old politician suffered from what is believed to be a heat exhaustion.
Boakai, who had been sworn in Liberia’s oldest-ever president, failed to finish reading his speech and had to be helped away from the podium during the ceremony at the nation’s capital, Monrovia.
According to the BBC, the new president had been speaking for around 30 minutes when it became clear that he could no longer continue. He was helped out of the podium by security detail and the inauguration ceremony had to be adjourned.
Boakai succeeds outgoing president George Weah after beating the incumbent in the run-off election last November. The septuagenarian served as vice president to former president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
