In a message sent to the President-elect of Botswana, the head of state stated that he was certain that “the important victory achieved” by Gideon Boko “reflects the confidence” that the citizens of Botswana have in his political project.
João Lourenço added that he was “very excited” about starting to work with the President-elect, with a view to increasing and consolidating existing bilateral cooperation, in order to promote “the implementation of fruitful exchange actions at all levels”.
Gideon Boko, who led the opposition, was sworn in on Friday in a closed-door ceremony, after his party, the Union for Democratic Change (CDU), obtained the parliamentary majority needed to govern in the general elections of 30 October.
In an express transfer of power, pending a public swearing-in ceremony, Botswana’s Chief Justice Terence Rannowane declared Boko President-elect after the CDU secured more than 31 of the 61 seats in the National Assembly (a unicameral parliament).
Botswana, known for its diamond mines and for being home to the world’s largest elephant population, is also southern Africa’s oldest democracy.
Although one of Africa’s richest countries in terms of gross domestic product per capita, Botswana is also one of the world’s most unequal, according to the World Bank, and its economy has suffered in recent years from the fall in diamond prices.
Diamonds, of which it is the world’s second-largest producer, account for a quarter of the country’s economy and more than 90 percent of its exports.
