Updated: Video Shows Moment Liberian President Boakai Helps Out of Stage During Inauguration

• Joseph Boakai, the president of Liberia, was said to have suffered a heat stroke during his inauguration speech on Monday
• It was reported that the inauguration ended abruptly while the president was helped to walk out of the podium
• However, it was learnt that the president had taken his oath of office before the incident happened

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Liberian President Joseph Boakai reportedly suffered a heat stroke while delivering his inauguration speech on Monday, January 22.

According to Reuters, local media reported that the inauguration abruptly ended as the new president was led off the podium.

Recall that Boakai, 79, defeated the incumbent, George Weah, in a runoff election in November 2023. He was sworn in at an outdoor ceremony under the heat in Monrovia, the capital of the West African country.

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Why Liberian President Boakai collapsed during the inauguration

However, the spokesperson to the president, Mohammed Ali, said Boakai had been stabilised, adding that the heat was high when he was delivering his speech.

According to the report, the president paused while giving his speech, and his aides quickly moved to fan him. A few minutes later, he continued but stopped again. His aides then helped him walk away from the podium, ending the ceremony.

Ali said:

“It is the heat. The heat was high. They should have had some fan or something around there.”

The spokesperson further added that:

“At his age, the exhaustion happened. But it is okay now.”

The opposition raised concerns about the age and health of President Boakai of Liberia

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Recall that there were concerns about Boakai's age and health from the opposition during the election, but his campaign team dismissed the rumour.

Even though the inauguration ended abruptly, the president had taken the oath of office when he was helped to walk away. Officials were said to have proceeded to have their planned launch, but Boakai's whereabouts were yet to be known.

See the video of the moment here:

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Source: Legit.ng