Botswana’s political landscape experienced a historic shift in 2024 when opposition leader Duma Boko unseated President Mokgweetsi Masisi, ending the Botswana Democratic Party’s uninterrupted rule since independence in 1966.
Boko’s victory, under the coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), was not only a political milestone but also a statement of growing public frustration with corruption, economic inequality, and overreliance on diamond revenues. On his third presidential bid, Boko secured a decisive win, channeling voter discontent into a campaign focused on justice, inclusivity, and economic reform.
The international spotlight soon followed. In April 2025, Time magazine named President Boko among its annual list of the world’s 100 most influential people, a nod to both his electoral upset and Botswana’s peaceful transfer of power.
“President Boko is magnetic, courageous, and intellectually formidable,” said presidential press secretary Emang Mutapati in a statement. “His inclusion in the Time100 list came as no surprise to those who understand the magnitude of what he represents.”
Boko’s rise was fueled by growing public unease over the outsized role of De Beers in Botswana’s economy, which relies on diamonds for more than 80% of its foreign revenue. His criticism of the ruling elite’s “grand scheme of self-enrichment” resonated widely, particularly among younger voters and rural communities demanding reform.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the president acknowledged the people’s role in shaping the nation’s future. “While my name may be listed, the real influencers are the people of Botswana. Their strength and vision fuel my purpose.”
But now comes the harder part—governance. Botswana’s economy faces severe headwinds due to a downturn in the global diamond market, as lab-grown alternatives disrupt traditional sales. The new administration inherits the challenge of weaning the country off its diamond dependence while honoring campaign pledges that include raising the minimum wage, expanding welfare programs, and creating jobs.
Boko has proposed diversifying the economy by investing in agriculture, tourism, cannabis production, and solar energy. “We can no longer afford to depend on a single commodity,” he declared during a recent national address.
Born in 1969 in Mahalapye, Boko’s journey to the presidency was grounded in a career of legal advocacy and education. After earning his law degree at the University of Botswana and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School, he became a respected academic and human rights lawyer. His work championed Indigenous rights and public health policy, laying the groundwork for his political rise.
In 2010, Boko took the reins of the Botswana National Front, later leading its merger with other opposition parties into the UDC. His vision of democratic socialism and regional integration has drawn praise beyond Botswana’s borders.
“Duma brings to the presidency a visionary social democratic agenda,” said Professor James Thuo Gathii of Loyola University Chicago, a former classmate at Harvard. “He has a deep understanding of Botswana’s place in Africa and the world.”
Boko joins a distinguished list of Africans on the 2025 Time100, including WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Nigerian media pioneer Mo Abudu, Ghanaian activist Fatou Baldeh, Zimbabwean education advocate Angeline Murimirwa, and renowned scientist Christian Happi.
As the world watches Botswana’s transition, many see in Boko’s presidency not just a change in leadership—but a redefinition of what is possible in African democracy.