Jeremiah Koung facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeremiah Koung
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Koung in 2024
|
|
| 31st Vice President of Liberia | |
| Assumed office 22 January 2024 |
|
| President | Joseph Boakai |
| Preceded by | Jewel Taylor |
| Member of the Senate of Liberia from Nimba County |
|
| In office 14 January 2021 – 22 January 2024 Serving with Prince Johnson
|
|
| Preceded by | Thomas S. Grupee |
| Succeeded by | Nya D. Twayen Jr. |
| Member of the House of Representatives of Liberia | |
| In office 2012–2021 |
|
| Preceded by | Francis Luogon Karway |
| Succeeded by | Samuel N. Brown Sr. |
| Constituency | Nimba-1 |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jeremiah Kpan Koung
17 March 1978 Yekepa, Nimba, Liberia |
| Political party | Unity Party |
| Other political affiliations |
National Union for Democratic Progress Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction |
| Alma mater | Cuttington University (BA) |
| Occupation | Politician |
Jeremiah Kpan Koung (born on March 17, 1978) is a politician from Liberia. He is currently the 31st Vice President of Liberia.
Before becoming Vice President, Koung served in the House of Representatives of Liberia. He was a member of the House from 2012 to 2020. Later, he was elected to the Senate of Liberia in 2020. In 2023, he joined the Unity Party. He was then chosen by Joseph Boakai to be his running mate for the presidential election.
Contents
Jeremiah Koung's Early Life and Education
Jeremiah Koung was born in Yekepa, Nimba County, on March 17, 1978. He started primary school there in 1981. In 1983, he moved to Ganta with his father.
Later, in 1986, he moved to live with his aunt in Buchanan. His schooling was stopped in 1990 because of the First Liberian Civil War. By 1996, Koung returned to Ganta after staying in a refugee camp in Guinea. That year, he started high school and finished in 2001. He went to Cuttington University in 2006. He earned a degree in business administration in 2010.
Starting a Political Career
Koung was first elected to the House of Representatives of Liberia in 2011. He ran under the National Union for Democratic Progress party. Senator Prince Johnson, a former warlord, supported Koung's campaign. Koung represented the Nimba County #1 District.
In 2017, Koung was re-elected to his seat in the House. This time, he ran with the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) party.
Serving in the Senate
In the 2020 election, Koung ran for a seat in the Senate of Liberia. Senator Johnson again supported his campaign. Koung won the election and became a Senator for the MDR party.
On December 22, 2022, Koung became the leader of the MDR party. He took over from Senator Johnson, who founded the party. As the new leader, Koung continued to oppose the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change party.
Becoming Vice President
On April 28, 2023, Joseph Boakai announced his choice for running mate. Boakai was the leader of the Unity Party (UP) and a former vice president. He chose Jeremiah Koung to run with him in the 2023 presidential election. Koung had become a full member of the UP before this selection.
After the first election in October, neither Boakai and Koung nor the current leaders, George Weah and Jewel Taylor, won enough votes. This meant there had to be a second election, called a run-off, in November. During a campaign event in Nimba County on November 10, there was an incident involving gunfire. Senators Koung and Johnson were there but were safe.
On November 17, 2023, after the run-off election, President Weah accepted that he had lost. This meant Joseph Boakai became the president-elect, and Jeremiah Koung became the vice president-elect.
See also
In Spanish: Jeremiah Koung para niños
