The president of Liberia serves as the head of state, government, and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. Before Liberia gained independence in 1847, executive power was held by a governor appointed by the American Colonization Society.
The first president, Joseph Jenkins Roberts, took office after independence. From 1847 to 1980, only Americo-Liberians, descendants of American settlers, held the presidency.
In 1980, Samuel Doe, an ethnic Krahn, ended this pattern through a military coup. Liberia faced civil wars that left the presidency vacant at times. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, elected in 2005, was the first female president. Joseph Boakai became president in 2024.
READ ALSO: Complete List Of Namibian Presidents From 1990 Till Date
List Of Liberian Presidents Since Independence
| Name | Term of Office | Political Party |
|---|---|---|
| Joseph Jenkins Roberts | January 3, 1848 – January 7, 1856 | Independent |
| Stephen Allen Benson | January 7, 1856 – January 4, 1864 | Independent |
| Daniel Bashiel Warner | January 4, 1864 – January 6, 1868 | Republican Party |
| James Spriggs Payne | January 6, 1868 – January 3, 1870 | Republican Party |
| Edward James Roye | January 3, 1870 – October 26, 1871 | True Whig Party |
| James Skivring Smith | November 4, 1871 – January 1, 1872 | True Whig Party |
| Joseph Jenkins Roberts | January 1, 1872 – January 3, 1876 | Republican Party |
| James Spriggs Payne | January 3, 1876 – January 7, 1878 | Republican Party |
| Anthony W. Gardiner | January 7, 1878 – January 20, 1883 | True Whig Party |
| Alfred Francis Russell | January 20, 1883 – January 7, 1884 | True Whig Party |
| Hilary R. W. Johnson | January 7, 1884 – January 4, 1892 | True Whig Party |
| Joseph James Cheeseman | January 4, 1892 – November 12, 1896 | True Whig Party |
| William D. Coleman | November 12, 1896 – December 11, 1900 | True Whig Party |
| Garretson W. Gibson | December 11, 1900 – January 4, 1904 | True Whig Party |
| Arthur Barclay | January 4, 1904 – January 1, 1912 | True Whig Party |
| Daniel Edward Howard | January 1, 1912 – January 5, 1920 | True Whig Party |
| Charles D. B. King | January 5, 1920 – December 3, 1930 | True Whig Party |
| Edwin Barclay | December 3, 1930 – January 3, 1944 | True Whig Party |
| William Tubman | January 3, 1944 – July 23, 1971 | True Whig Party |
| William Tolbert | July 23, 1971 – April 12, 1980 | True Whig Party |
| Samuel Doe | April 12, 1980 – January 6, 1986 | Military / National Democratic Party |
| Charles Taylor | August 2, 1997 – August 11, 2003 | National Patriotic Party |
| Moses Blah | August 11, 2003 – October 14, 2003 | National Patriotic Party |
| Ellen Johnson Sirleaf | January 16, 2006 – January 22, 2018 | Unity Party |
| George Weah | January 22, 2018 – January 22, 2024 | Congress for Democratic Change |
| Joseph Boakai | January 22, 2024 – Incumbent | Unity Party |
Who Was The First President Of Liberia?
Joseph Jenkins Roberts, born on March 15, 1809, in Norfolk, Virginia was the first president of Liberia. He came from a family of mixed heritage and was born free, which was rare for Black people at the time.
Despite having some privileges, Roberts faced many challenges as a free Black person living in Virginia. Because of the limited opportunities for free Black people, Roberts chose to leave the United States.
In 1829, he moved to Liberia with his family as part of a plan by the American Colonization Society to resettle free Black people in Africa.
They hoped to create a place where free Black people could live and build new lives away from the restrictions of American society.
Once in Liberia, Roberts became a successful businessman and a respected member of the community. He started a trading business and became involved in local politics.
In 1839, Roberts was appointed Vice Governor, and in 1841, after the death of Governor Thomas Buchanan, he became the first African American governor of Liberia.
Liberia declared its independence on July 26, 1847. The country needed a president to lead it, and in the first election that year, Roberts was elected without opposition.
He took office on January 3, 1848. His main goal was to help Liberia gain international recognition as an independent nation.
He traveled to Europe to meet with leaders from countries like the United Kingdom and France, and he succeeded in getting them to recognize Liberia’s independence.
In 1848, the UK became the first country to officially recognize Liberia. During his presidency, Roberts strived to expand Liberia’s territory and strengthen its economy.
He developed agriculture, and trade also encouraged the education of the people, and helped create institutions like Liberia College, which later became the University of Liberia.
However, Roberts faced challenges, including resistance from indigenous groups who did not want to be part of the Americo-Liberian culture, which was brought over by settlers like Roberts.
Joseph Jenkins Roberts served as president until 1856. After losing his re-election bid, he continued to be active in Liberia’s politics.
He was later re-elected in 1872 after a coup led to the removal of the sitting president. He served until 1876 when he became too ill to continue, however, he passed away on February 24, 1876.
READ ALSO: Complete List Of Mali Presidents Since 1960 Till Date
Who Is The New President Of Liberia?
Joseph Nyumah Boakai is the new president of Liberia. He won the 2023 presidential election and will officially take office on January 22, 2024.
In the runoff election held on November 14, 2023, Boakai defeated the current president, George Weah, with 50.64% of the vote, which amounted to 814,481 votes.
George Weah received 49.36% of the votes, totaling 793,914. The first round of elections was held on October 10, 2023, but no candidate won a majority, leading to the runoff.
Joseph Boakai was born on November 30, 1944, in Worsonga, Lofa County, Liberia. He comes from the Kissi ethnic group and studied Business Administration at the University of Liberia, earning his degree in 1972.
Boakai started his career in the public service sector at the Ministry of Agriculture and eventually became the Minister of Agriculture from 1983 to 1985 under President Samuel Doe.
He is best known for serving as Liberia’s Vice President from 2006 to 2018 under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first female president.
Boakai also played a part in different agricultural projects and served as the managing director of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company.
In the 2017 presidential election, Boakai ran against George Weah but lost in a runoff. However, he did not give up. He came back in 2023 with a strong campaign focused on unity, good governance, and economic growth.
He promised to tackle issues like corruption, improve healthcare and education, and create better infrastructure. Now, as president-elect, Boakai faces many challenges.
Liberia is still recovering from past conflicts and has economic and social issues to address. Many Liberians see him as a leader who can bring change, stability, and prosperity to the country.
READ ALSO: Complete List Of Guinea Presidents From 1958 Till Date
Who Is The New Vice President Of Liberia?
The new Vice President of Liberia is Jeremiah Kpan Koung. He took office on January 22, 2024, alongside President Joseph Boakai.
Jeremiah Koung was born on March 22, 1975, in Zwedru, a town in Grand Gedeh County. He graduated from the University of Liberia, however, before entering politics, Koung was a businessman and in community service, which helped him gain a good reputation as someone who cared about his people.
Koung’s career in politics began in 2011 when he was elected to the House of Representatives, representing Nimba County.
While in the legislature, he addressed important issues like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. In the 2023 elections, Koung ran for Vice President as Boakai’s running mate.
Their campaign promised changes like economic reforms, anti-corruption measures, and better living conditions for the people of Liberia.
As Vice President, Koung has several important responsibilities. He will preside over the Senate and advise President Boakai on important matters.
One of his main focuses will be tackling issues like poverty and corruption, which were big concerns during the election.
