Liberian President George Weah is in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa for the 30th African Union Summit, his first international trip since taking office on January 22.
Weah joined other Heads of State for the 2018 forum which put main focus on corruption and security issues.
The 51-year-old former football star won the Liberian presidential election in the second round with 62 per cent, beating off competition from former vice president Joseph Boakai.
Weah was officially inaugurated into office last week, taking over from Africa’s first elected female president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Tens of Heads of State are in Addis Ababa for the Summit themed Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation.
Corruption was also a key mention during Weah’s inaugural speech in Monrovia, where he made a promise to the Liberian people that he would end the vice.
“I…believe that the overwhelming mandate I received from the Liberian people is a mandate to end corruption in public service. I promise to deliver on this mandate,” he said.
His predecessor Ellen Johnson was criticized for not cracking down on graft during her 12-year tenure, allowing.
Proposals have in the past been made to have the AU institute an anti-graft body to help nations fight the vice in unison.
The Summit in Addis will discuss this possibility.
Other leaders present in the forum include Jacob Zuma (South Africa), Hailemariam Desalegn (Ethiopia), Muhammadu Buhari (Nigeria), Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (Egypt), Hage Geingob (Namibia), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Mohamed Abdulahi (Somalia), Ali Bongo Ondimba (Gabon), and more.
