The man who put meaning back into the words "Yes we can!" has been inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America, but after facing insurmountable odds to be elected president, more challenges await Barack Obama, writes Michael Appel.
Realising the road following his presidential inauguration would be a bumpy and hard fought one. During his acceptance speech in Chicago, Illinois on 4 November 2008, then President-elect Obama told his electorate the US faced two conflicts, economic recession and climate change.
"I know you didn't do this just to win an election and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead.
"For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, [and] the worst financial crisis in a century," Mr Obama said at the time.
One of the greatest impacts of the economic recession on the US has been the massive job cuts which led to over 2.6 million retrenchments in 2008, with that figure expected to double in 2009.
Tackling the problem of job creation is going to be one of many challenges the new administration will have to deal with before the new coat of paint in the White House has even begun to dry.
In his inauguration speech on Tuesday Mr Obama said: "That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred.
"Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered.
"Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet."
Millions of the US electorate who voted for Mr Obama, and even those who didn't, will be looking towards his new administration to fulfil a number of promises made while on the campaign trail.
Research Fellow at the South African Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA) Tom Wheeler explained to BuaNews on Tuesday about 50 percent of his attention will be focussed on his country's financial meltdown.
His inauguration, Mr Wheeler said, will bring back some much needed confidence to markets and could kick start the economy again.
Regarding Iraq, Mr Obama highlighted in his inaugural speech that the US will responsibly begin withdrawal of troops and will work to forge hard-earned peace in Afghanistan.
Iraq, largely considered to be a blunder of the Bush administration, was a decisive and emotive issue on the campaign trail with Mr Obama pledging to have a full withdrawal from Iraq by 2010.
Mr Wheeler said the majority of troops withdrawn from Iraq will then be redeployed to America's second war zone, Afghanistan.
"Sending 20 000 extra troops to Afghanistan has domestic budget implications for the new administration though," Mr Wheeler said.
The weakening Pakistani government and the rise of terrorist operations in that country will be a significant challenge to President Obama, Mr Wheeler said, adding that strained relations between Pakistan and India after the Mumbai terrorist attacks will also be of grave concern.
On Tuesday, the President invited the Muslim world to join them in a new way forward.
"To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect," the new US President said.
Mr Wheeler said the world was surprised by America's absence and silence during the three-week Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
However, should Hillary Clinton, wife of former President Bill Clinton and fellow Democratic presidential candidate, who Mr Obama has chosen to be his Secretary of State, be approved by Congress, she will likely be heading straight for the Middle East, Mr Wheeler said.
"The US has been cosying up to India recently and has been helping them with their peaceful nuclear energy programme...this could be because India has become a major global economic power and a valuable partner of the US in the war on terror," Mr Wheeler highlighted.
Regarding Africa, Senior Research Fellow with the Africa Security Analysis Programme at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Dr Wafula Okumu, told BuaNews Mr Obama's commitment to Africa was not in doubt, but that he was very likely to concentrate on problems in the US first.
The Bush administration was very generous in terms of providing aid to Africa in support of attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and Dr Okumu said this was likely to continue under the new administration.
In his speech on Tuesday the new American President pledged assistance to poor nations; "To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.
"And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders," the US President said.
Dr Okumu is quick to remind however that while Presdient Obama is of African origin, he is first and foremost the president of the United States.
"He has always been pro-Africa [though] and has been vocal in the senate regarding the situations in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and Zimbabwe.
"He is likely to continue with the projects and programmes for Africa started under President Bush, but we don't expect an increase in funding for the year," Dr Okumu said.
