Tyrant With Certificate of Return Still a Tyrant, Weah Tells African Leaders

Former Liberian President and football legend George Weah has warned that winning an election does not automatically make a tyrannical leader democratic.

Weah made the remarks at the ongoing 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The former president urged African leaders to embrace democratic principles and respect the rights and freedoms of citizens, warning that leaders who govern like dictators pose a serious threat to democracy.

Weah said the danger to democracy goes beyond military coups or defeated candidates refusing to accept electoral outcomes.

“The danger is not only that soldiers might seize power in the night or that a defeated candidate might refuse to leave office. A tyrant with a certificate of return is still a tyrant,” he said.

He stressed that electoral victory and the possession of a Certificate of Return should not be used as justification for authoritarian governance.

Weah also highlighted the important role of lawyers and judges in protecting democracy and citizens’ rights.

According to him, an independent judiciary supported by a courageous and professional legal community is essential to the survival of democratic institutions.

He urged the legal profession to remain vigilant in defending constitutional freedoms and holding governments accountable.