Botswana President Masisi concedes defeat as opposition seizes power in historic election

In a landmark shift, Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi announced Friday his intention to step down following a decisive loss in the country’s recent general election.

Preliminary counts from the election showed the opposition bloc securing an unprecedented majority, ending the long-standing rule of Masisi’s Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has governed the diamond-rich nation since its independence in 1966.

Speaking at a press conference, Masisi extended his congratulations to the opposition, acknowledging their victory and stating, “It has been a good journey.”

The 63-year-old leader affirmed his commitment to facilitate a peaceful transition and pledged his future role as part of a “loyal opposition” to hold the incoming administration accountable.

The election results indicate that the left-leaning Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) won over 24 seats, with projections pointing to an overall 31-seat threshold for the opposition coalition.

Harvard-educated human rights lawyer Duma Boko, the UDC’s presidential candidate, now stands poised to become the next president, with final confirmations expected from Botswana’s electoral commission later Friday.

Should the outcome hold, this election will mark a historic transfer of power in Botswana, as the BDP cedes leadership for the first time in nearly six decades.