DR Congo ushers in new president
Opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in as president of Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday, marking the country's first-ever peaceful handover of power after chaotic and bitterly-disputed elections.
Tshisekedi took the oath of office before receiving the national flag and a copy of the constitution from outgoing president Joseph Kabila, stepping aside after 18 years at the helm.
A moment of drama was injected into the ceremony when the newly-minted president was taken ill during his speech. After a 12-minute interruption, Tshisekedi returned to the microphone, saying: "A famous president of our country said in his time: 'understand my emotion'."
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