Botswana's Presidential Election Faces Tight Contest Amid Economic Challenges

President Mokgweetsi Masisi seeks a second term against a divided opposition and the return of ex-president Ian Khama.

Botswana's election on October 30 features four presidential candidates, including incumbent Mokgweetsi Masisi and opposition leader Duma Boko.
Economic issues dominate the campaign, with critics citing rising unemployment and declining diamond revenues under Masisi's leadership.
Ex-president Ian Khama has returned from self-exile to support the opposition, criticizing Masisi for economic mismanagement and undermining democracy.
Masisi's policies, such as lifting the elephant hunting ban and negotiating a new diamond deal, are central to his re-election platform.
The opposition is fragmented, with the Umbrella for Democratic Change, Botswana Patriotic Front, and Botswana Congress Party fielding separate candidates.