Botswana’s ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), led by President Mokgweetsi Masisi, appears to have suffered a historic defeat in the country’s general elections, losing its nearly six-decade hold on power.
Preliminary results indicate that opposition groups, led by the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) under presidential hopeful Duma Boko, have gained 31 out of the 61 parliamentary seats, enough to secure a majority in the legislature.
Concerns over high unemployment, alleged corruption, and economic dependence on diamond revenues seem to have fueled the public desire for change. The UDC, alongside two other opposition parties, also won key local council seats, signaling a wider public shift against the BDP. The Independent Electoral Commission is expected to confirm these results later today.
With an economy heavily reliant on diamonds, the incoming government will face pressure to diversify, address unemployment—especially among youth—and tackle rising inequality. Political analysts highlight the urgency for Botswana to find sustainable growth beyond its traditional diamond sector.