Why in the News?

Duma Boko of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) was declared Botswana’s sixth president by Chief Justice Terence Rannowane. UDC secured 34 National Assembly seats, surpassing the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which won only four seats. Outgoing President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat, marking the end of BDP's nearly six-decade rule in Botswana.

Botswana

• Location: It is a landlocked country in Southern Africa.
• Bordered by: Namibia to the west and north, Zimbabwe to the northeast, Zambia at a small border point in the north and South Africa to the south and southeast.
• Capital: Gaborone
• It was formerly known as Bechuanaland under British rule, gained independence from Britain on 30^th September 1966.
• It transitioned peacefully into an independent nation and has been one of Africa's most politically stable countries since then.
• Political System: Parliamentary representative democratic republic.
• President: Duma Boko
• Currency: Botswana Pula (BWP)
• Official Language: English (Setswana is widely spoken).
• One of Africa's fastest-growing economies, heavily reliant on diamond mining, tourism and beef exports.
• It is known as "The Land of Diamonds" due to its substantial diamond mining industry.
• It is dominated by the Kalahari Desert and it is known for its diverse wildlife, especially in the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.