Results from Friday’s parliamentary elections in Lesotho showed a newly established party headed by a billionaire diamond magnate won the most seats.
However, Sam Matekane’s Revolution for Prosperity party only managed to win 56 seats, falling barely short of the necessary majority to break the protracted political gridlock.
The All Basotho Convention party, which led the outgoing government, lost a lot of support and only won eight of the country’s 120 seats.
Over the last decade, numerous coalition governments have been undermined by infighting and no prime minister has served out a full five-year term.
Mr Matekane, who only formed the party six months ago, will now have to secure the support of smaller parties to form a government.