The appointment of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States sparked a mutiny in anti-establishment politics worldwide. The victories of Emmanuel Macron and Italian populist party MS5 owe their victories to the new wave of populist politics reborn under Trump’s presidential campaign. Whether the rise of populist politics will have a profoundly positive impact on democratic values and on free market economics has yet to be seen in the Western world.
But what about the rest of the world? In particular, what about West Africa?
In January this year, the former FIFA World Player of the Year, George Weah, became the 24th president of Liberia in a runoff election with 61.5 per cent of the vote. Weah’s success can be boiled down to his campaign promises – better life standards, improving literacy rates and fighting corruption – all of which evidently enticed the young Liberian majority.
Moreover, Weah’s party, the Congress for Democratic Change, identifies itself as a “big tent” party, a party which appeals to many different views and ideologies across the spectrum. In short, it is a populist party promoting populist reforms.
Populism has, therefore, extended its grasp onto the African continent. But on the basis of development and prosperity surely we can be optimistic about the spreading of populism into Africa?
On the surface, yes, we should be optimistic. Weah has lived a life of extremes having grown up in absolute poverty to playing in the top European leagues, becoming three-time African Footballer of the Year, and picking up a Ballon d’Or on the way. Weah understands the challenges that those most at need face – basic educational, health and economic necessities.
Of course the argument could be made that these ex-footballers are naïve and know nothing about politics – Weah was heavily attacked for having no formal education prior to the 2005 election – but to what extent does theoretical political knowledge really matter? Of course some prudent political education is important, a head of state must understand how to run his or her country both domestically and on the international stage.
However, take the previous president of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, an accomplished Harvard graduate. While Sirleaf was instrumental in propelling equality in a heavily patriarchal society, she was unfortunately victim to a corrupt government backing her. She had claimed corruption to be “public enemy number one,” and vowed to weed it out of her administration. Ultimately, she did not and this contributed to her downfall.
Sirleaf used her position as president to appoint her sons to senior governmental positions, to the anger and frustration of many Liberians. Unfortunately, this is nothing new. African politics has been plagued by nepotism and corruption, no matter the president’s level of education or professional experience.
Weah is not part of Liberia’s elite or establishment. He has no desire to promote his own self-centred desires. This is reflected in one of Weah’s first acts as president, a 25 per cent pay cut. This may be a negligible figure in revitalising Liberia’s broken economy, but is a welcomed change to a history of recently elected African leaders rewarding themselves with extravagant pay rises and benefits.
Weah grew up in one of the poorest districts of Monrovia, his presidential campaign reflect the grave issues he witnessed growing up. Weah has named: fighting corruption, combating illiteracy, major economic reforms and improving the poor life conditions as the main goals (excuse the pun) of his presidency. All of Weah’s goals share a common theme – they all create a base on which development and prosperity in Liberia can become a reality.
Moreover, Weah will attend the Africa CEO Forum later this month in Abidjan to meet with potential investors and raise Foreign Direct Investment in Liberia. The hope is to kick start major infrastructure projects, such as a major restructuring plans for both the health and educational institutions and improving the general business climate. Not only does this lay the groundwork for Liberia’s economic revolution, it affirms Liberia’s commitment to an inter-continental mission to promote public-private investment on the African continent.
Of course these are very ambitious plans, and without the correct execution could become extremely costly white elephant projects. However, Weah’s history as a footballer, and a great one at that, should help raise the sufficient amount of FDI and capital necessary for his major infrastructure projects. Not only is Weah revered in Liberia, but in the whole of Africa.
It is still too early to see the impact of Weah’s administration on Liberia, but even the election was the first peaceful and democratic transition of power in 47 years. Peaceful democratic elections, major economic reforms and a pact to battle corruption all show the positive impact of populist politics in the West African country.
Briefly, we should also look at the Ivory Coast, which may have a potential president in footballer Didier Drogba. Not only is Drogba renowned for his humanitarian projects in his homeland, he and his team were instrumental in ending the First Ivorian Civil War between the rebel-held North and the government-loyal South, after making a televised plea to his people after winning in a 2006 World Cup qualifying game. By doing so, Drogba helped unite government soldiers and rebels alike in cheering for their national team. It was the first time the country had qualified for the World Cup, and the first time in five years rebels and government soldiers had come into contact with each other in a non-hostile setting.
So can ex-footballers become viable presidents? In the case of Weah it is too early to tell. That being said, there are very encouraging signs that make Weah’s presidency look exciting and prosperous heading into the future. Drogba on the other hand, is nowhere near the political scene, but maybe he will become political active in the near future. Both Weah and Drogba are much loved throughout their counties and are both passionate about developing their respective countries into the prosperous nations they can be – a feature all politicians should share.
