Prince Yormie Johnson, a former Liberian warlord turned influential senator, has died at 72. Known for his role in Liberia's civil wars and infamous for the 1990 footage of President Samuel Doe's torture, Johnson was never prosecuted for war crimes despite recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. As a senator since 2005, he played a significant role in Liberian politics, supporting successful presidential candidates. His death is seen as a setback for victims seeking justice. Johnson's political career was marked by controversy, including US sanctions for alleged corruption. While revered in his home county, he remains a divisive figure due to his wartime actions.

George Weah, a former football legend, is vying for the presidency of Liberia after winning the first round of voting but failing to secure an outright victory. He faces a run-off against current vice-president Joseph Boakai. Weah's political journey has been marked by mixed perceptions; while he is seen as a popular figure internationally, his political capabilities are questioned domestically. He has formed alliances with controversial figures and parties, and his campaign has faced criticism for lacking substance. Despite this, Weah remains a significant political force in Liberia, leveraging his fame and popularity to garner support.

Liberian President Joseph Boakai announced a 40% reduction in his salary to promote responsible governance and solidarity with citizens facing economic challenges. This move follows his predecessor George Weah's 25% salary cut. While some praise Boakai's decision, others question its significance due to his additional benefits. Boakai aims to empower the Civil Service Agency and has initiated audits to combat corruption, a prevalent issue during Weah's administration. Transparency advocates commend Boakai's actions, hoping for positive impacts on public welfare.

Liberia is taking a significant step towards establishing its first war crimes court to address atrocities committed during the 1989-2003 conflicts. Despite some domestic opposition, the initiative is supported by international allies, including the US, which views it as a move towards justice and reconciliation. The court aims to address past crimes and promote national healing, building on the work of the 2006 Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which had identified individuals for prosecution but faced political challenges. Former President Charles Taylor remains a notable figure, serving a sentence for related crimes in Sierra Leone.

Major internet disruptions have been reported across several African countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Ghana, and Burkina Faso. The cause of the cable failures remains unclear, but patterns in the timing of disruptions have been noted. Significant connectivity drops were observed in Ivory Coast, Liberia, Benin, and Ghana. Vodacom in South Africa and the MainOne cable system in Nigeria reported issues. The Liberia Telecommunications Authority attributed the disruptions to an incident involving the ACE submarine communications cable. The National Communications Authority in Ghana also cited multiple undersea cable disruptions. Cloudflare and Netblocks provided data on the ongoing disruptions.

Main web disruption has been reported across several African countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Benin, Ghana, and Burkina Faso. The Nigerian Communications Commission attributed the outages to damage to international undersea cables along the West African coastline. Connectivity has since been restored in Liberia and South Africa, but the disruptions have caused significant difficulties for individuals and businesses reliant on the internet. Various organizations, including Netblocks and the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, have reported on the extent and causes of the outages.

Liberian President George Weah, who has been in office since 2018, conceded defeat to Joseph Boakai in the recent elections, a move that has been widely hailed for its sportsmanship and statesmanship. Weah's early concession, before the official results were announced, has been seen as a positive step for democracy in Liberia, a country with a history of civil war. The Global Justice and Research Project and other analysts praised Weah for his peaceful approach and the Economic Community of West African States thanked him for his commitment to peace. While Weah's presidency is noted for tolerance and infrastructural development, his administration also faced criticism for corruption scandals and the national football team's performance. The president-elect, Joseph Boakai, has promised to focus on fighting corruption and boosting agricultural production.

Liberian President George Weah has been commended for his sportsmanship in conceding defeat to his rival Joseph Boakai in the presidential race, a move that has been seen as rare in Africa and has helped prevent post-election tension. Weah, who has been president since 2018, received 49.11% of the vote with results from 99.58% of polling stations counted. His concession is viewed as a victory for Liberian democracy and a testament to the maturity of the country's political process. The elections were the first since the departure of UN peacekeepers in 2003. Regional bloc Ecowas and various Liberian figures have praised Weah's actions, which are seen as setting a positive example for democracy in West Africa. Weah's presidency is also noted for tolerance, infrastructural development, and the absence of political prisoners or jailed journalists. The president-elect Boakai has pledged to focus on fighting corruption and boosting agricultural production.

Liberian President George Weah conceded defeat in the presidential race to his challenger Joseph Boakai, who holds an unassailable lead with 50.89% of votes. Weah, who has been in power since 2018, faced criticism for not addressing corruption and economic issues. He expressed respect for the democratic process and urged national unity. Celebrations erupted in Monrovia as Boakai's victory became apparent. The election was the tightest since the civil war, with a run-off triggered by the lack of a majority in the first round. Boakai campaigned on rescuing Liberia from mismanagement, while Weah touted his achievements, including free university tuition.