Botswana’s president concedes election defeat, ending 58 years of ruling party rule

GABORONE, Botswana — Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat in a general election on Friday, a watershed moment of change for the country that ended the ruling party’s 58 years in power.

Masisi’s concession was made before final results were announced, with his Botswana Democratic Party finishing fourth in the parliamentary elections.

The main opposition Umbrella of Democratic Change party held a comfortable lead in partial results, making its candidate Duma Boko the favorite to become president of the southern African country, which is one of the world’s biggest diamond producers.

Masisi said he called Boko to say he was admitting defeat.

“I recognize the elections,” Masisi said at a morning press conference two days after the elections. “I am proud of our democratic processes. While I wanted to seek re-election, I will respectfully step aside and participate in a smooth transition process.”

“I look forward to attending the upcoming inauguration and cheering on my successor. He’ll love my support.”

Masisi’s BDP has dominated Botswana politics for nearly six decades since its independence from Britain in 1966. The nation of just 2.5 million people will now be governed by a different party for the first time in its democratic history.

Botswana is considered one of Africa’s most stable democracies, with an economy largely dependent on diamonds. Botswana is the second largest producer of natural diamonds in the world after Russia.

But the mood for change was evident as the slump in global demand for diamonds severely impacted Botswana’s economy, with unemployment rising to more than 27% this year as the government saw a sharp decline in diamond revenues. Masisi and his party have been criticized for not doing enough to diversify the economy.

Doko is a 54-year-old lawyer who also contested elections in 2014 and 2019.

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This story has been updated to correct the spelling of President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s name.

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AP Africa News: https://apnews.com/hub/africa