Botswana’s President has conceded defeat in the general election, in a seismic moment of change for the country that ended the ruling party’s 58 years in power since independence from Britain in the 1960s.

Mokgweetsi Masisi’s concession on Friday came before final results were announced, with his Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) trailing in fourth place in the parliamentary elections in what appeared to be a humbling rejection by voters.

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

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

Masisi said he had called Boko to inform him he was conceding defeat, and said Boko was now in effect the president-elect.

“I concede the election,” Masisi said. 

“I am proud of our democratic processes. Although I wanted a second term, I will respectfully step aside and participate in a smooth transition process.

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

Masisi’s BDP dominated politics in Botswana for nearly six decades, since independence in 1966. 

The nation of 2.5 million people will be governed by another party for the first time in its democratic history. 

“We lost this election massively,” Masisi said.

Botswana has been held up as one of Africa’s most stable democracies, with its economy largely relying on diamonds. 

Botswana is the second-biggest natural diamond producer behind Russia.

But the mood for change was evident as a downturn in the global demand for diamonds badly affected Botswana’s economy.

Unemployment rose to more than 27 per cent in 2024, and it was significantly higher for young people, as the government saw a sharp decrease in revenue from diamonds. 

Masisi and his party had faced criticism for not having done enough to diversify the economy and the nation had been forced to adopt recent austerity measures.

–AAP