Duma Boko | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Boko in 2025 | |
| 6th President of Botswana | |
| Assumed office 1 November 2024 | |
| Vice President | Ndaba Gaolathe |
| Preceded by | Mokgweetsi Masisi |
| President of theUmbrella for Democratic Change | |
| Assumed office November 2012 | |
| Vice President | Ndaba Gaolathe |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 25 October 2014 – 28 August 2019 | |
| President |
|
| Preceded by | Dumelang Saleshando |
| Succeeded by | Dumelang Saleshando |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1969-12-31)31 December 1969 (age 55) Mahalapye,Botswana |
| Political party | Botswana National Front |
| Other political affiliations | Umbrella for Democratic Change |
| Spouse | Kaone Boko |
| Alma mater | University of Botswana (LLB) Harvard Law School (LLM) |
| Profession |
|
Duma Gideon Boko (born 31 December 1969) is a Motswana politician and lawyer who is currently serving as the sixthPresident of Botswana since 1 November 2024 and as leader of theUmbrella for Democratic Change since 2012.[1][2] He served asLeader of the Opposition from 2014 to 2019.
Duma Boko attained the presidency of theBNF in 2010. He led the creation of theUmbrella for Democratic Change, an alliance of the main opposition parties in Botswana. He ran as the alliance's president in Botswana's general elections in2014[3] and2019.[4] At the2024 election, he led his party to victory and was sworn in as President of Botswana on 1 November 2024.[5]
Duma Boko was born in Botswana's Central District, in the village ofMahalapye.[6] Boko's father, who died in 2004, worked as a lecturer at Madiba Brigades. Duma has a sister, Emma Boko.[7]
In 1987, Boko studied law at theUniversity of Botswana. He was elected to the Student Representative Council (SRC). Among his law classmates were High Court judges Michael Leburu, Key Dingake, Bengbame Sechele and Lot Moroka. After graduating in 1993, he attendedHarvard Law School, where he obtained aMaster of Laws degree.[8]
Boko returned to teach law at University of Botswana from 1993 to 2003,[9] while also running a law firm. In the early 2000s, he wrote a column in the newspaperThe Monitor in which he claimed that judges were not intellectually progressive.[7] He expressed frustration that academics and judges were not doing enough research to make informed judgements.
Boko became the leader of theBotswana National Front (BNF) in 2010.[10] His position and party membership was challenged on the grounds that when the BNF split in 2000, he had become a founding member of the National Democratic Front (NDF).[11] If proven, this would, according to the BNF constitution, disqualify him from a leadership position in the party for three years after rejoining it. He prevailed in court. He inherited a party that was in decline under the leadership of Otsweletse Moupo.[7]
The BNF came together with the newly formedBotswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), a splinter of theBotswana Democratic Party, and the Botswana Peoples Party to form theUmbrella for Democratic Change.[12] Some BNF members were strongly against the coalition, arguing that the exercise would make their party disappear.[13] Lawsuits against Boko and his central committee were filed before the High Court. Boko and theBNF won all the court challenges.[14]
In the2014 general election, Duma Boko led the UDC to a second-place finish in the National Assembly, winning 17 seats to theBotswana Democratic Party's (BDP) 37.[15] Boko became the leader of the Opposition.
In the2019 general election, Boko was defeated byAnna Mokgethi of the BDP in theGaborone Bonnington North constituency. As a result of his defeat, he lost his title of Leader of the Opposition in the12th National Assembly.[16] Boko claimed that during the 2019 general election, there was massive vote rigging and fraud by the BDP to favour PresidentMokgweetsi Masisi. The current evidence is the discontinuation ofelection ink and an excess ofvoter's registration cards.[17]
Despite both theBotswana Congress Party andBotswana Patriotic Front leaving theUDC, Boko's party, and the opposition as a whole, were able to take a majority of seats in the elections while reducing the long-dominant BDP to a rump of four seats. As leader of the majority alliance in the legislature, Boko became the president-elect.[18] He was sworn into office on 1 November,[19] with a more public ceremony held on 8 November.[20] Boko's ascent to the presidency marked the first time since 1966, when Botswana became independent, that a former opposition party has won an election.[21] The newly elected President of Botswana appointedLesego Chombo as the Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs.
As president, Boko stated his intention to granting temporary work and residence permits to undocumented Zimbabweans and renegotiate economic agreements withDe Beers regarding Botswana's diamond industry.[22] In his firstState of the Nation Address in November 2024, Boko said that his government would push for increased investment into solar energy, medicinalcannabis and industrial hemp. He also announced engagements withElon Musk to extend affordable internet access nationwide throughStarlink.[23] In March 2025, Boko attended the launch of Botswana's firstsatellite,BOTSAT-1, into space. The launch took place fromSpaceX facilities inCalifornia, USA.[24]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President of Botswana 2024–present | Incumbent |
