Botswana's Ruling Party Loses Power After Nearly Six Decades

Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat in the general election after preliminary results showed his party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), lost its parliamentary majority by a landslide. The opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) had a significant lead, with its leader, lawyer Duma Boko, on track to win the presidency. Analysts attributed the BDP's downfall to mounting socio-economic grievances. The UDC secured more than 22 MPs, with Boko likely to become the new president. Masisi stated that he would "step aside" and that the BDP would retreat to being a loyal opposition. The results from the Wednesday vote were expected to be confirmed later on Friday, but it was clear that the BDP had been swept from government, redrawing the country's political landscape. The opposition coalition's victory was a significant shift in Botswana's politics, with the UDC now poised to take power after decades of BDP rule.