The Ministry of Information in Liberia announced today, Tuesday, that President George Weah intervened to cancel his country's vote against a United Nations resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Liberia was the only African nation and one of only ten countries in the 193-member United Nations General Assembly that voted against the UN's call on December 12 for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, a call supported by 153 nations.
The ministry stated that the Liberian diplomats responsible for the vote did so without Weah's support, who, as head of state, has the final word on Liberia's foreign policy. It noted in a statement that Weah has "always stood for peace worldwide." The Liberian Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the UN General Assembly to rescind its "no" vote and register a new vote in favor of a ceasefire in Gaza.
The Ministry of Information indicated that Weah wrote to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in November prior to the UN vote, asking him to "exercise... restraint and consider the civilians who are the real victims of the ongoing crisis."
The former international football star Weah is set to step down from the presidency after losing the election in November. His presidency has been marred by allegations of corruption, but his acceptance of the electoral defeat has raised hopes for a smooth power transition in the once-troubled African nation.
