Republic of Botswana

Botswana, 1966 to today. Draft, not yet reviewed

As part of the decolonisation of Africa, Bechuanaland became an independent Commonwealth republic under its current name on 30 September 1966. The discovery of diamonds in 1967 transformed the economy. Partnerships with De Beers and the creation of Debswana allowed the government to gain substantial diamond revenue, helping Botswana become one of Africa's fastest-growing economies. In the 2024 Botswana general election, the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change defeated the Botswana Democratic Party, ending 58 years of BDP rule and making Duma Boko president.

Seat of power: Gaborone

Rulers

Seretse Khama

President of Botswana, 1966–1980

He served as the first President of Botswana, a post he held from 1966 to his death in 1980. He founded the Botswana Democratic Party in 1962 and became Prime Minister in 1965. During his presidency, the country underwent rapid economic and social progress.

Portrait of Seretse Khama: European Communities Director: Allan Watson Architect: Jean Polak,Jean Gilson,Lucien De Vestel,André Polak, CC BY 4.0, file

Quett Masire

President of Botswana, 1980–1998

He was the second and longest-serving president of Botswana, in office from 1980 to 1998. He played a crucial role in facilitating and protecting Botswana's steady financial growth and development.

Portrait of Quett Masire: European Communities / Jean-Louis Debaize, CC BY 4.0, file

Festus Mogae

President of Botswana, 1998–2008

He served as the third President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008. During his presidency, Mogae was credited with his management of Botswana's economy. In 2008, Mogae was awarded the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership.

Portrait of Festus Mogae: Greenweek, CC BY 2.0, file

Seretse Khama Ian Khama

President of Botswana, 2008–2018

He served as the fourth President of Botswana from 1 April 2008 to 1 April 2018. After serving as Commander of the Botswana Defence Force, he entered politics and was Vice-President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008.

Portrait of Seretse Khama Ian Khama: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, OGL v1.0, file

Mokgweetsi Masisi

President of Botswana, 2018–2024

He served as the fifth president of Botswana from 2018 to 2024. He served as the eighth vice president of Botswana from 12 November 2014 to 1 April 2018.

Portrait of Mokgweetsi Masisi: World Intellectual Property Organization, CC BY 2.0, file

Duma Boko

President of Botswana, 2024 to today

He is currently serving as the sixth president of Botswana since 1 November 2024. At the 2024 election, he led his party to victory and was sworn in as President of Botswana on 1 November 2024. He is the first, and so far the only president in Botswana's history not to belong to the Botswana Democratic Party.

Portrait of Duma Boko: U.S. Department of State, Public domain, file

Culture

Botswana produces more diamonds than any other country except Russia.
Botswana has some of the largest and most important wildlife populations in Africa. Northern Botswana has one of the few remaining large populations of the endangered African wild dog.
The country's name means "Land of the Tswana", referring to the dominant ethnic group in Botswana.
On 22 June 2014, the Okavango Delta became the 1000th site to be officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Picture

The Okavango Delta is a vast inland delta in Botswana and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Image: Joachim Huber, CC BY-SA 2.0, file

Sources

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.