• Botswana ruling party booted out of power after 58 years
• Early results show the BDP secured only one parliamentary seat
• UDC won 20 seats and is projected to surpass the majority needed to form government
• BDP’s decline attributed to economic struggles and high unemployment

Botswana ruling party booted out of power after 58 years

Botswana’s ruling party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), has been voted out after 58 years in power. Early election results show the BDP secured only one parliamentary seat, while the opposition coalition, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), led by human rights lawyer Duma Boko, has won 20 seats. The UDC is projected to surpass the 31-seat majority needed to form the government, positioning Boko to become the next president.

The Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), supported by ex-president Ian Khama, won five seats, and the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) claimed eight. Together, opposition parties secured 31 of the 61 seats, eliminating any path for the BDP to retain power. Celebrations erupted in the capital, Gaborone, as voters embraced this dramatic political change.

The BDP’s declining popularity has been attributed to recent economic struggles and high unemployment. President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s campaign for continuity fell short, as voters sought more decisive action and leadership to address the nation’s challenges. Official results are expected from the electoral commission later Friday.