African football legend George Weah said on Wednesday he had quit his job as peace ambassador in his native Liberia to run for senator.

“I am running for senior senator of Montserrado and that is my target now,” he told AFP.

Weah, the leader of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change, was quoted in a statement from the presidency as thanking Sirleaf for the post, which “enabled him to contribute to the promotion of peace and stability”.

The former AC Milan superstar was appointed in December 2012 after Nobel laureate Leymon Gborwee resigned the post, accusing Sirleaf of nepotism.

Weah’s job was principally to facilitate the peace process following 14 years of ruinous civil war which ended in 2003 after the deaths of 250,000 people.

Credit: AFP