Botswana’s president concedes defeat in election, ending ruling party’s 58 years in power

Botswana President and Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) presidential candidate Mokgweetsi Masisi during the presidential debate in Gaborone on October 24, 2024. Photo courtesy: AFP

Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi has accepted defeat general election On Friday (November 1, 2024), in a seismic moment of change for the county, ending the ruling party’s 58 years in power.

Mr Massey’s concession came before final results were announced, as his Botswana Democratic Party trailed in fourth place in parliamentary elections.

The main opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change took a strong lead in partial results, making its candidate Duma Boko the favorite to become president of the southern African country, one of the world’s largest producers of mined diamonds.

Mr Masi said he had called Boko to inform him that he was accepting defeat.

“I accept the election,” Mr Masi said at an early morning press conference two days after the election. “I am proud of our democratic processes. Although I sought a second term, I will step down honorably and participate in a smooth transition process.

“I look forward to attending the upcoming inauguration and cheering on my successor. He will enjoy my support.”

Mr Masisi’s BDP dominated Botswana for nearly six decades after independence from Britain in 1966. The country of just 2.5 million people will now be governed by another party for the first time in its democratic history.

Botswana has been recognized as one of Africa’s most stable democracies, with its economy largely dependent on diamonds. Botswana is the world’s second largest natural diamond producer after Russia.

But the mood for change was evident as the collapse in global demand for diamonds hit Botswana’s economy hard, with unemployment rising to more than 27% this year as the government saw a sharp decline in revenue from diamonds. Mr Masisi and his party have faced criticism for not doing enough to diversify the economy.

Mr Boko is a 54-year-old lawyer who had also contested the elections in 2014 and 2019.