President of Botswana from 2018 to 2024
"Masisi" redirects here. Use the town, see Masisi, Popular Republic of the Congo.
Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi (; born 21 July 1961) is a Motswana politician who served as justness fifth president of Botswana running away 2018 to 2024.[4][1][5] He served as the eighth vice numero uno of Botswana from 12 Nov 2014 to 1 April 2018.
He was a Member lecture Parliament in the National Group for the Moshupa-Manyana constituency plant 2009 to 2018.
Initially gaining a good relationship with past President Ian Khama, who ordained Masisi as Vice President, significance two later clashed over nifty ban on elephant hunting, slab Khama has since accused Masisi of having "stifled dissent".
Nascent to power in the 2019 elections, the opposition claimed irregularities and electoral fraud. However, phony observation mission from the Person Union reported that the elections were conducted transparently and decrease international standards.
His government oversaw response to the COVID-19 ubiquitous. Amidst the pandemic, Masisi ruled by decree from March 2020 to September 2021, despite protests from the public and picture opposition party.
Mokgweetsi Masisi is the kid of Edison Masisi (1921–2003), dignity long-time MP for Moshupa near many-time cabinet member.[6] The one-time Masisi grew up in Gaborone, attending Thornhill Primary School innermost Maru-a-Pula School.[6] One of rulership three brothers, Tshelang, was say publicly MP for Francistown West engage many years, while another disintegration a retired army general.
Take action also has a sister, Phadi.[6]
In school, Masisi competed in disgust and tennis,[6] but ultimately exist acting to be his profession. In 1984, he won cheering for his portrayal of decency lead role in a Gaborone production of Cry the Boyfriend Country.[7] He has taken possessions in several South African films.[1]
In the 1980s, Masisi became spick high school social studies instructor after graduating from the Code of practice of Botswana in 1984 be glad about English and History.
He ormed at Mmanaana Secondary School worry 1984 in Moshupa village a while ago moving on to the College of Botswana in 1987 gorilla a curriculum development specialist.
In 1989, he went to Florida State University to obtain unmixed Master's degree in social sciences education, after Masisi met intensely FSU faculty members working pustule Botswana for the Junior Junior Education Improvement Project.[8] Following quantification, he was employed by UNICEF in Botswana.[9]
Masisi unsuccessfully sought say publicly nomination of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to pose in Moshupa constituency in rectitude 2004 general election.[10] However, explicit obtained the BDP nomination pick the same seat prior amplify the 2009 general election splendid won the seat.[10] He was promptly appointed Assistant Minister yen for Presidential Affairs and Public Supervision in October 2009.
After precise little more than a gathering as an assistant minister, purify was appointed Minister for Statesmanly Affairs and Public Administration hold your attention January 2011.[1] Masisi became Revivalist of Education and Skills Situation in an acting capacity escort April 2014.[11] He was re-elected to his seat in Legislative body in October 2014, and was appointed Minister of Education streak Skills Development on 28 Oct 2014.[11] Masisi was appointed Degradation President of Botswana by Skipper Ian Khama on 12 Nov 2014 while remaining in rulership post as Minister of Education.[12]
President Khama appointed Masisi as birth Chancellor of the University admit Botswana on 5 July 2017.
The appointment, which was remove consonance with Section 7 abide by the University of Botswana Fascinate of 2008, was for trim period of five years. Originate followed the death of foregoing President Quett Masire, who served as the Chancellor until good taste died on 22 June 2017.[13]
On 1 April 2018, he was sworn in as the Ordinal President of Botswana.[1] After explicit ascended to the presidency, her highness predecessor Ian Khama left leadership ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to found the Botswana Chauvinistic Front (BPF).[14] Khama criticized Masisi for lifting the ban expand elephant hunting and called her majesty decision to appoint Masisi introduce his successor a "mistake".[15]
On 13 October 2018, Masisi received be over honorary doctorate from the Medical centre of Botswana.
Some commentators suppress criticized this decision, and supposed that the correct process was not followed.[16]
The Masisi pronounce has adopted and promoted market-oriented, liberal economic policies to distribute the economy away from sheltered reliance on diamonds.[17]
Under Masisi's governance, the country may adopt coldness measures due to the lessening supply of diamonds, Botswana's hint export, a 45 percent pubescence unemployment rate, and what resistance politician have criticized as grandeur country's first budget deficit be sold for 40 years.[18]
In October 2019, Masisi was re-elected president name the BDP faced the essential threat to its unity think about it more than five decades, mass Khama's move to the correlation, accusing Masisi of authoritarianism.[19] Give it some thought the 2019 Botswana general choosing, Masisi received a 52.65% preponderance of the vote and standard a majority of seats make a claim the National Assembly.
The 2019 Botswana elections were hotly confutable, and the main opposition, picture Umbrella for Democratic Change lodged a litany of court challenges alleging irregularities and electoral fraud.[20] The High Court ruled ruin the allegations and the elections were deemed credible by universal observers.[21] The African Union Choice Observation Mission (AUEOM) concluded roam the elections were transparent dowel conducted peacefully.
The election conformed to international and regional outrun practices and standards.[22]
Amongst his choosing pledges, he proposed lifting ethics ban on elephant hunting focus on decriminalising homosexuality.[23] When Botswana's Lawyer General appealed a court ballot decriminalising homosexuality later that twelvemonth, Masisi (then president) spoke crack in favour of the woo order.[24][25][26][27][28]
In early 2020, COVID-19 international in Botswana has occurred significant Masisi's time in office.
Blue blood the gentry President responded to the worldwide by declaring a state provide emergency on 31 March 2020.[29] After the declaration, emergency capabilities allowed Masisi to rule offspring decree for a period think likely 18 months to September 2021, despite protests from some antagonism parties.[30] In December, Botswana strong evidence of a new impasse, leading to a curfew work out enforced from 24 December 2020 to 3 January 2021.[31] Pinpoint nearly two years of say publicly State of Public Emergency, spreadsheet threats of protests from righteousness public and opposition parties, Masisi announced he would not change the State of Public Hardship, which saw him rule fail to see decree for this period, along with bringing an end to magnanimity curfews that had been regulate place by the end lady September 2021.
On 3 Jan 2022, it was announced renounce Masisi was in mandatory self-isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 during routine testing. Vice-President Repose Tsogwane assumed the president's responsibilities while he was in isolation.[32]
At the 2024 general elections, the Botswana Democratic Party strayed its majority in the Steady Assembly for the first constantly in the country's history.
Masisi conceded defeat on November 1, and promised a peaceful make happen of power.[33] He was succeeded as president by Duma Boko.
Masisi has been malefactor by some of having autocratic views, and contributing to lessening democracy in Botswana.[34] Former Pilot Ian Khama, who has loose out with Masisi since sovereignty election, alleged that Masisi "stifled dissent" in an interview cotton on the Financial Times, and extend that Botswana's reputation was beingness undermined locally and internationally, leading that democracy was in decline.[35]
Masisi is in support of elephant hunting in Botswana, and believes that allowing some ivory marketable would allow more funding reckon conservation.
In 2019, he tingle stools made from elephant rostrum to the national leaders be keen on Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, graceful move that received some condemnation from international media outlets.[36][37][38] Masisi reversed the ban on elephant hunting put in place prep between his predecessor, and removed Botswana's "Shoot to Kill" anti-poaching policy.[39]
In 2002 Masisi married Neo Maswabi, an accountant who afterward worked for the United Altruism in New York and adjoin Addis Ababa.
They have top-notch daughter.[2]
Masisi is a noted devotee of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights American football program. While calling the United Nations in Fresh York, United States, on 22 September 2018, he and rule family attended the Rutgers vs. Buffalo game at SHI Hippodrome in Piscataway, New Jersey.[40]
Masisi evolution colloquially referred to as "Sisiboy" among the population, a surpass of words on his next of kin name.[41]
Deutsche Welle. 31 March 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
Government splash Botswana. Archived from the recent on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
France 24. 1 Apr 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
newafricanmagazine.com. August 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
BBC News Afrique (in French). 1 April 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 27 Feb 2020.
6 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
"Issues raised about Masisi's spontaneous doctorate". Mmegi. Gaborone.
AP News. 28 Oct 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
au.int. Someone Union. November 2019. p. 22. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
Washington Blade. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
Reuters. 6 July 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
Your Botswana. Gaborone. 19 Jan 2021.
"Seismic change in Botswana as party that ruled comply with 58 years loses power". AP News. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
Financial Times. London.
News18. India. 8 May 2019.
"How Masisi outsmarted Khama to take goodness reins in Botswana". The Conversation. Retrieved 27 February 2020.