Botswana’s ruling party loses election, ending 58-year rule

With more than half of constituencies reporting, the opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) had a significant lead, putting its leader, lawyer Duma Boko, on track to win the presidency.

Analysts said that mounting socio-economic grievances, particularly among young people, were the downfall of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has governed the small southern African state since independence from Britain in 1966.