Cyril Ramaphosa has been sworn in for a second term as President of South Africa. At the age of 71, Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected by Parliament. However, in the parliamentary elections on May 29, the African National Congress (ANC), in power since the end of apartheid, lost its absolute majority in parliament for the first time. In the coming days, the head of state will have to form a coalition government that is unprecedented in the country's democratic history.

At the age of 71, Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected by parliament. However, in the legislative elections on May 29, the African National Congress (ANC), in power since the end of apartheid, lost its absolute majority in Parliament for the first time, obtaining only 40% of the votes.

Ramaphosa was re-elected after the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) and a smaller third party joined the ANC in an agreement to co-govern Africa's most industrialized economy.

This is the first time in 30 years of governance that the ANC has lost its parliamentary majority.

Sanctioned at the ballot box in a climate of growing poverty, endemic unemployment and corruption, the historic party now holds just 159 of the 400 parliamentary seats.

At the inauguration, Cyril Ramaphosa promised to work together to solve the country's problems.

"The voters of South Africa did not give a single political party the full mandate to govern our country alone. They told us to work together to solve their problems and realize their ambitions," said Ramaphosa in his speech quoted by the RFI.

The head of state, re-elected for another five years, will have to form a coalition government in the next few days that is unprecedented in the country's democratic history.

Around twenty heads of state and government came for the occasion.

(Photo DR)