Country

Botswana

Democracy

0.03%

of the world’s population

2,603,390 people

Source: Tyranny Tracker

Overview

HRF classifies Botswana as democratic.

Botswana is a parliamentary republic and Africa’s longest-uninterrupted democracy. The head of state, Duma Boko, was democratically elected in the October 2024 presidential elections as the first opposition challenger to win the presidency after 58 years of uninterrupted rule by the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).

Key Highlights

National elections are mainly free, fair, and transparent. Political parties enjoy vibrant electoral competition with elections held every five years. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) operates without interference from the executive.

Independent media, political leaders, civil society leaders, organizations, and regular people are largely free to openly criticize or challenge the government. However, the previous BDP administration of Mokgweetsi Masisi unfairly repressed dissenting protests, judicially harassed his political rival and predecessor, former President Ian Khama, and abused vague laws to silence journalists and government critics.

Institutions are largely independent and serve as effective checks on the government, consistently restraining attempts to repress criticism, undermine electoral competition, or weaken or dismantle accountability mechanisms. The government has not considerably undermined judicial independence.

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Botswana Most Recent

Human Rights Dispatch

Sep 22, 2026

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Botswana's Publications

Human Rights Dispatch

Sep 22, 2026

NGOs Urge Action on Xi Jinping, Tanzania Faces Legitimacy Crisis, Alex Saab Pleads Guilty, and more.

Ahead of Vietnamese President To Lam’s upcoming visit to New York in September, HRF co-signs a joint letter with @PENamerica @pressfreedom @RSF_inter and other organizations to @SecRubio , urging the US Department of State to call for the release of Vietnamese writers and journalists Le Huu Minh Tuan, Pham Chi Dung, Nguyen Tuong Thuy, and Pham Doan Trang.

Sep 21, 2026

How Tanzania’s Flawed 2025 Election Produced a Crisis of Legitimacy

Nine months after Tanzania’s general elections, the regime is still using prosecution to try and neutralize those it claims to have defeated at the polls. On July 25, opposition party Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) said 51 of its officials had been arrested and charged with terrorism in connection with demonstrations planned for earlier in the month.

Human Rights Dispatch

Sep 17, 2026

Zambia Cancels Passports of 6 Government Critics

HRF condemns the Zambian regime’s arbitrary cancellation of the passports of six government critics along with the stripping of nationality from two others. HRF calls for these grave abuses of administrative powers—imposed without due process—to be lifted immediately and for Hakainde Hichilema’s regime to end its ongoing, politically-motivated crackdown on dissent.

Human Rights Dispatch

Sep 16, 2026

NGOs Urge Xi Jinping to End Repression, Mali Sentences Critics, and more.

HRF condemns prison sentences imposed last month by Malian courts on four prominent public opinion leaders for public criticisms of the military regime of Gen. Assimi Goïta. HRF calls for their convictions to be overturned and for their immediate release.

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