São Tomé and Príncipe President Carlos Vila Nova has been sworn in for a second five-year term after securing re-election earlier this year.
The inauguration took place at the National Assembly, with several African and international leaders attending the ceremony.
Vila Nova won more than 55% of the vote in July, securing victory in the first round of the presidential election.
Vila Nova begins second term
Vila Nova first became president in 2021 with the backing of the centre-right Independent Democratic Action party.
He returned to the ballot in July and defeated his main rival, lawmaker Nito Abreu, who had the backing of former prime minister Patrice Trovoada.
However, voter participation was particularly low.
Abstention reached 59%, marking a historically low turnout in the island nation.
African leaders attend inauguration
Several foreign leaders and senior officials travelled to São Tomé and Príncipe for the inauguration.
They included the presidents of Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The prime ministers of Portugal and Mozambique also attended the ceremony at the National Assembly.
The event formally begins another five years in office for Vila Nova.
What power does the president have?
Despite being head of state, the president of São Tomé and Príncipe has a largely ceremonial role.
Most executive authority rests with the prime minister and government.
That means attention will now turn to the country’s legislative elections, scheduled for September 27.
The result of that vote will determine the country’s next head of government and could play an important role in shaping the political landscape during Vila Nova’s second term.
São Tomé and Príncipe is one of Africa’s smallest countries, an island nation located in the Gulf of Guinea.