Ramaphosa Re-Elected in South Africa, but Coalition Remains Tenuous

Title: Fragile Coalition in South Africa Elects Cyril Ramaphosa for Second Term as President

In a surprising turn of events, a fragile coalition of lawmakers in South Africa has elected Cyril Ramaphosa for a second term as president, ushering in a new era of political uncertainty in one of the continent’s most stable democracies.

After a sharp decline in support in last month’s national election, Mr. Ramaphosa’s party, the African National Congress (ANC), engaged in intense negotiations to form a governing coalition with rivals. The coalition includes the Democratic Alliance, a long-time rival of the ANC, and the Inkatha Freedom Party, among others.

Many South Africans are hopeful that this new coalition will force the parties to work together to address the country’s economic challenges, including stagnation, high unemployment, and entrenched poverty.

However, the new government faces numerous challenges, including internal divisions among the coalition partners. The ANC, which had governed with comfortable majorities since the end of apartheid, only captured 40 percent of the vote in the recent election, making the stability of the coalition crucial for the government’s survival.

The coalition agreement also faces opposition from parties like UMkhonto weSizwe and the Economic Freedom Fighters, who have refused to join the unity effort. These parties have raised concerns about working with the Democratic Alliance, citing ideological differences and fears of rolling back affirmative action efforts.

Despite the challenges, the coalition agreement sets out guidelines for resolving disputes among the parties and outlines priorities such as inclusive economic growth and creating a more just society. The partnership between the ANC and the Democratic Alliance, along with other parties, aims to promote unity and collaboration in governing the country.

As South Africa navigates this new political landscape, the success of the coalition government will depend on the ability of the parties to set aside their differences and work together for the betterment of the country.