Liberia’s new President Joseph Boakai has failed to finish his inauguration speech and had to be helped away from the podium during his swearing-in ceremony.
Boakai on Monday spoke for approximately 30 minutes during his inauguration ceremony, but it became evident that he was struggling to continue.
His attempts to carry on speaking failed twice, leading to the adjournment of the ceremony.
Video footage captured a man fanning papers near Mr. Boakai’s face before he was escorted away.
Despite the challenges, Mr. Boakai had already taken the oath of office, becoming Liberia’s oldest-ever president.
The inauguration ceremony took place at the Capitol Building, the parliamentary seat located in the capital, Monrovia.
After he was taken away, new Vice President Jeremiah Koung spoke to guests and escorted them to the presidential dinner.
The president’s office released a statement later on Monday saying Boakai had suffered exhaustion but that doctors had since declared him “perfectly fine.”
“He has resumed his normal activities. He is expected to meet with the Ghanaian President and other dignitaries today,” the statement added.
Some of Boakai’s opponents had raised concerns about his age and energy during the election campaign, but his team dismissed the criticism.
Boakai was vice president of Nobel Peace Prize-winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s government until 2018 and contested the presidency under the banner of the United Party (UP).
He defeated George Weah by just over 20,000 votes in a run-off election in November.
Mr Boakai also ran for the presidency in 2017 but lost to Mr Weah, who became Liberia’s youngest-ever elected president.
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