Latest Botswana News

Thousands turn out for inauguration of Botswana's new president, who calls for unity

Nov. 08, 2024 12:00 PM EST

GABORONE, Botswana. (AP) — Thousands of people from around Botswana attended the inauguration Friday of their country's new president, Duma Boko, who called for unity after an election that brought an end to the former ruling party's 58 years in power. His Umbrella for Democratic...

Seismic change in Botswana as party that ruled for 58 years loses power

Nov. 01, 2024 11:28 AM EDT

GABORONE, Botswana (AP) — The party of Botswana's opposition candidate Duma Boko was declared the election winner Friday over incumbent President Mokgweetsi Masisi in a seismic change that ended the ruling party’s 58 years in power since independence from Britain. Masisi conceded...

Botswana's president concedes defeat in election to end his party's 58 years in power

Nov. 01, 2024 02:29 AM EDT
GABORONE, Botswana (AP) — Botswana's president concedes defeat in election to end his party's 58 years in power.

Botswana holds an election where the diamond trade has become a central issue

Oct. 30, 2024 08:43 AM EDT

GABORONE, Botswana (AP) — Botswana held a national election on Wednesday to decide if one of Africa's longest-ruling parties stays in power for another five-year term. The Botswana Democratic Party has governed the southern African nation for 58 years, since independence from...

Polls open in an election in Botswana, where the governing party has been in power since 1966

Oct. 30, 2024 01:02 AM EDT
GABORONE, Botswana (AP) — Polls open in an election in Botswana, where the governing party has been in power since 1966.

Diamond-rich Botswana holds an election with new economic challenges for a long-ruling party

Oct. 28, 2024 03:10 AM EDT

GABORONE, Botswana (AP) — Botswana votes in a national election this week that will decide if the ruling party extends a 58-year stretch in power in a southern African country that is a leading diamond producer and often held up as one of the most stable and least corrupt democracies on the...

The biggest diamond in over a century is found in Botswana — a whopping 2,492 carats

Aug. 27, 2024 09:21 AM EDT

GABORONE, Botswana (AP) — The largest diamond found in more than a century has been unearthed at a mine in Botswana, and the country's president showed off the fist-sized stone to the world at a viewing ceremony Thursday. The Botswana government says the huge 2,492-carat diamond is...