Pres. Weah Arrives in France for Paris Peace Forum

President and First Lady Weah upon their arrival in Paris

— Holds bilateral discussion with President Macron

On a chain of international duties, the President of Liberia, George Manneh Weah, on November 9, 2022 departed the Arab Republic of Egypt and arrived in Paris, France, to attend the 5th Edition of the Paris Peace Forum, a release from the Executive Mansion says.

The President was earlier in Morocco and Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt where he attended the MEDays Forum and COP27 respectively, delivering Liberia’s position on critical world issues, mainly bordering  on peace, pandemics and climate change.

He is now in Paris to attend the Paris Peace Forum, which serves as a platform upon which state and non-state actors engage in transnational cooperation for collective action.

With the far-reaching and combined effects of crises across the world on people and global cooperation, this year’s forum focuses on “Riding out the Multi-Crisis” with special emphasis on managing the fallout of the multi-crisis on populations, cooperating through conflicts, rethinking globalization in a polarized world and catalyzing climate and environmental solutions as well as ensuring a safer and ethical digital world and fostering more inclusive and just societies.

On the margins of the forum, President Weah is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron.

The President is also expected to hold discussions with other world and business leaders.

The two-day Paris Peace Forum kicks off on November 11, 2022. 

The Liberian president's recent travel abroad has brought about a barrage of criticism from the public.

According to a local media report the President will be away for nearly 22 days attending official State functions. However, critics could not avoid highlighting the fact that the President's travel is prolonged and includes some personal activities.  The President is also expected to attend the coming FIFA tournament in Doha, Qatar, apparently to cheer on his son, Timothy, who plays for the United States national soccer team and is expected to feature on the squad in this year’s world cup.

The 22-year-old Timothy Weah, who also plays for Lille Olympique Sporting Club (France), has followed the footsteps of his father, Weah.

Though criticized back home, President Weah, a man who is known as a renowned footballer before becoming Liberia’s president, may not want to miss the opportunity to see his son making history for the first time as a world cup player, an opportunity he Weah didn't get while playing football, despite his great achievement in the foot arena. President Weah as a footballer invested his time and energy into his country’s team, the “Lone Star'' but his country was not fortunate to make it to the World Cup during his football career.

While the President is away, it is reported that his recent trip is bringing back some dividends for the country, amidst the economic situation his nation is currently facing.