Ramaphosa’s Presidency: What Has Changed?
On the eve of the 25th anniversary of democracy in South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC) still holds power in a nearly hegemonic way. Nevertheless, the popularity of the party is decreasing while economic and social inequalities are deeply entrenched in the country.
The legacy of apartheid cannot be dismissed in explaining the state of South African society but the ANC is now facing its own responsibilities, especially since many cases of corruption and mismanagement of public resources have been revealed, particularly under Jacob Zuma's presidency. It is in this difficult context for the ANC that Cyril Ramaphosa was elected party leader in December 2017 and then president of South Africa after Jacob Zuma's resignation in February 2018. This succession has highlighted the deep divisions within the ANC. More than a year after taking office and on the eve of the 2019 general elections, Cyril Ramaphosa faces a dual task: to preserve the unity of his party and to remedy the dissatisfaction of a growing proportion of voters by proposing concrete changes.
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Victor MAGNANI
Ancien Chargé de projets, Centre Afrique subsaharienne de l'Ifri
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Sub-Saharan Africa Center
Founded in 2007, Ifri's Sub-Saharan Africa center produces an in-depth analysis of the African continent and its security, geopolitical, political and socio-economic dynamics (in particular the phenomenon of urbanization). The Center aims to be both, through various publications and conferences, a space for disseminating analyzes intended for the media and the public but also a decision-making tool for political and economic actors with regard to the continent.
The center produces analyses for various organizations such as the Ministry of the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the French Development Agency (AFD) and even for various private supports. Its researchers are regularly interviewed by parliamentary committees.
The organization of events of various formats complements the production of analyzes by bringing the different spheres of the public space (academic, political, media, economic and civil society) to meet and exchange analytical tools and visions of the continent. The Sub-Saharan Africa Center regularly welcomes political leaders from different sub-Saharan African countries.
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