Wilson Center Africa Program’s Post

As predicted, South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) lost majority vote in the just concluded May 29th elections for the first time in 30years. With 40.2% of the votes, the ANC has been declared to have lost the election since 50% of the votes is needed to form a government. This means 👇🏾 📌 President, Cyril Ramaphosa faces questions about his future as president. Although, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula told a press conference that Ramaphosa’s step down would not be a term for consideration. 📌 The ANC needs to form a coalition government with other parties to suprass 50% and form a government 📌 The people of South Africa except their leaders to work together to govern them More updates soon as negotiations commence on the future of South Africa. ♻️Share and follow for more Sources: ➡️ Al Jazeera Media Institute ➡️ The Guardian #politics #governance #SouthAfrica

South Africa's 29 May 2024 election is the first time since the end of formal apartheid in 1994, that the outcome of the election is unpredictable, with the governing African National Congress not guaranteed a majority. Without uncertainty in the outcome of elections, the probabilities that governing parties and leaders will be accountable or adhere to good governance are remote. Without the real possibility of losing power, governing parties and leaders have little incentives to deliver reliable public services, behave responsibly and honestly. The political landscape of South Africa is about to be redrawn. Talking to National Public Radio.

Today #SouthAfrica wakes up to a new era in its multi-racial democracy.   For the first time since the 1994 election that marked the end of apartheid, the ANC failed to win a parliamentary majority in last month’s election. It was forced to form alliances with other parties in a government of national unity – a humbling moment for the party and turning point for the nation.   South Africa’s new national unity government will theoretically ensure representation in government for all participating parties, with decisions being made by consensus. Will it work?   Despite the success of patching together a coalition in such a short time, the challenges for President Ramaphosa and his new partners in government remain profound. Here are three key takeaways on the South African elections from Highgate’s Senior Vice President, Alastair Sloan, and Vice President, Ileana Konialidis.

The South African Elections Is going as broadly predicted, for the first time in South Africa , we will be seeing something akin to mild chaos. In the next 14 days the country's victorious political parties are supposed to form a coalition government. The problem is that the horse trading will be wild because all the 4 leading political parties, the MK, the EFF, the DA and the ANC are disconnected and any attempt at a coalition will lead to a very fragile alliance, that will always be fraught with edgy tensions on very sensitive issues. At the top of the bargaining table comfortably seats the ANC, and it may hold most of the aces up its sleeves but anything unexpected could breakout. Expect to see the following scenarios in the coming days: An ANC/EFF coalition, an ANC/MK coalition, an ANC/DA coalition or an unusual, and highly unlikely ANC/EFF/MK coalition, with Ramaphosa's leadership of the coalition opposed. Also an unlikely and strange DA/MK/EFF coalition could emerge without Ramaphosa's leadership and in the last worst case scenario no coalition would be formed, leading for the first time to a hung parliament kind of situation in South Africa.

https://lnkd.in/gJbMarew The sociopolitical situation in Senegal has been going from bad to worse since the announcement of the delay of the next presidential elections, which were scheduled for February 25, 2024, without giving an exact date. Senegal is known to be a beacon of democracy in West Africa. Since the announcement of the indefinite delay of the presidential elections, the country has fallen into unprecedented chaos. This decision has sparked widespread protests across the country, with many accusing President Sall of trying to extend his term in office beyond the two-term limit. Since he took power in 2012, many political journalists and political scientists have asserted that Senegal was becoming a political dictatorship. Over the years spent in power, President Macky Sall demonstrated that he was a Machiavellian political leader with autocratic tendencies. While it is a stretch to claim that Senegal has become a dictatorship, it must be said, on the other hand, that it is not far from becoming one if the elections remain indefinitely postponed. Link in bio to read the full article and subscribe to have access to unlimited daily articles. #financialmarkets #business #politics #economics #thelakestreetreview #Americannews #Africannews #americanmarkets #africanmarkets #mediacompany #newscompany #LSR

A brilliantly written post-election reflection on #Senegal by colleagues who capture the sentiments of Senegalese, and indeed, African young people, regarding democracy and respect of the rule of law. Worth a read!

I'm thrilled to share some reflections on the recent national assembly elections in South Africa. The results mark a pivotal moment in the nation's democratic journey, with the ANC losing its two-thirds majority and the emergence of new political voices like the MK and the Patriotic Alliance. This shift signifies a vibrant and evolving political landscape, giving hope for more diverse and representative governance. Looking ahead, it's possible that Namibia might experience a similar shift in its upcoming elections, with opposition parties and new entrants like the IPC gaining significant seats in parliament and the ruling party potentially receiving less than 50% of representation. Such changes could further enhance democratic principles in the region. However, it is crucial that this progress is not marred by disruptive behavior on the assembly floor. Policymakers must prioritize constructive debates and collaboration to drive positive change in policies and uplift the nation. The spirit of democracy should be embraced, ensuring that coalitions serve the people rather than the ambitions of power-hungry politicians. Congratulations to Africa's biggest economy for conducting successful and peaceful elections. Let's continue to work together to build a stronger, more inclusive Africa. #SouthAfrica #Democracy #Elections #Progress #Governance #Policy #Leadership #NamibiaElections #PoliticalChange

Elections are more than just an act of casting votes, it is a reaffirmation of a people’s collective commitment to democracy, justice, and the shared future of a country. As the good people of South Africa head to the polls today, it is a good time to remind them and all of us that their active and informed participation in this election process is the heartbeat of democracy. It not only denotes the present realities but also lays the foundation for the future—and the future is now. I particularly call on the conscious participation of South Africa’s young people. Remember that your role in governance doesn’t end today; it begins anew. Your voice drives change today and beyond. Let’s build a brighter, democratic future together for Africa. #SouthAfricaVotes #SAElections2024 #TheFutureIsNOW

The 2024 National and Provincial elections have concluded, but it remains to be seen how South Africa will be governed over the next 5 years. Over the next 14 days, all major political parties will be working towards forming a government for South Africa. 1. No clear majority rule is a sign that our democracy is alive and kicking and responding to the needs of South Africans. 2. Coalition agreements can slice and dice power sharing in multiple permutations. This is not limited to Cabinet positions only, but could include key roles in Parliament and within provincial government. 3. This is unchartered territory, but presents an exciting opportunity for the future of South Africa with a multi-party government at the helm. Read more analysis from our team Lelo Skosana, Relebohile Phoofolo Kagiso Christopher Mkhonza Jeremy Michaels

I have accepted an invitation by South Africa's main opposition parties, including the DA, FF Plus, IFP, ActionSA and others, to serve as independent Chairperson of the negotiations to cobble together a coalition pact between opposition parties ahead of the 2024 national elections. It is a tipping point moment in South Africa to reimagine the future, reset the country's economy, and turnaround the slide into failed state, failed democracy and failed society.  The mandate is to persuade as many credible parties to join, to establish a joint vision for the country based on shared values and get the coalition ready to govern at national level. Once the agreement is concluded, I will exit. This will be the first pre-election coalition pact established in the modern era in SA. Coalitions are mostly established after elections. This is also one of the rare occasions where parties ask an independent chairman, not affiliated to any of the parties involved, to take charge of helping them find agreement. In many Western countries, credible outsiders are often asked to negotiate a coalition government agreement after elections when no single party has won an outright victory in an election. In Africa, pre-election coalition pacts have been relatively rare. Mauritius and The Gambia are among the most successful pre-election coalition pacts to unseat dominant governing parties and leaders in the postcolonial era.