Africa: Botswana

Poachers are hunting rhinos in Botswana and South Africa for their horns which are wrongly believed to have medical value. By STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN (AFP/File)

Nearly 50 rhinos killed in Botswana in 10 months as poaching surges

Feb 24, 2020

At least 46 rhinos have been slaughtered in Botswana in 10 months, a government official said on Monday as the southern ...

Botswana is auctioning licences to kill elephants by trophy hunters, a move that has sparked widespread anger. By MONIRUL BHUIYAN (AFP)

Botswana holds controversial auction of elephant h...

Feb 7, 2020

Botswana, home to the world's largest elephant population, on Friday held its first major auction for trophy elephant hu ...

Botswana to start auction of elephant hunting lice...

Feb 7, 2020

Botswana, home to the world's largest elephant population, on Friday was set to hold its first major auction for trophy ...

With unfenced parks and wide-open spaces, Botswana has Africa's largest elephant population with more than 135,000. By MONIRUL BHUIYAN (AFP)

Botswana to start auctions of elephant hunting lic...

Feb 6, 2020

Botswana on Friday will hold its first major auction for trophy elephant hunting quotas since controversially scrapping ...

Victor: President Mokgweetsi Masisi delivers a speech after being sworn in on November 1. By Monirul Bhuiyan (AFP)

Botswana opposition loses bid to nullify election ...

Jan 29, 2020

Botswana's court of appeal on Wednesday dismissed an opposition bid to challenge election results that enabled Presiden ...

A historic drought has led to a shortage of edible mopane caterpillars in Botswana. By Monirul Bhuiyan (AFP)

Edible caterpillars become rare in drought-hit Bot...

Jan 17, 2020

Packed with protein and calcium, mopane worms are a delicacy in Botswana, where they are stirred into chunky tomato ...

Contested election: A polling officer in Gaborone verifies ballots on voting day last October. By Monirul Bhuiyan (AFP)

Botswana opposition wins right to challenge electi...

Jan 8, 2020

Botswana's court of appeal on Wednesday ruled in favour of hearing an opposition bid to throw out general election resul ...

Polling officers verify ballots at a counting centre in the Ledumang Senior Secondary school for the Gaborone North constituency, in Gaborone on October 23, 2019. By Monirul Bhuiyan (AFP/File)

Botswana court rejects opposition election fraud c...

Dec 24, 2019

A high court in Botswana's capital Tuesday dismissed the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change's (UDC) call to have ...

There are fewer than 25,000 rhinos left in the wild in Africa due to a surge in poaching. By MUJAHID SAFODIEN (AFP/File)

Rhino poaching rises in Botswana despite governmen...

Dec 24, 2019

Thirteen rhinos have been poached in Botswana in the last two months, the tourism ministry said, as the government tries ...

Protection row: Botswana has introduced new rules enabling elephants to be hunted legally. By MONIRUL BHUIYAN (AFP)

Botswana animal groups outraged at elephant killin...

Dec 13, 2019

Animal campaigners demanded on Friday that a Botswana hunter's licence be revoked after an elephant was killed despite b ...

The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) won most the seats in October's election but the opposition has challenged the result. By Monirul Bhuiyan (AFP)

Botswana ruling party member claims 'vote rigging'...

Dec 12, 2019

A Botswana ruling party member has claimed to have taken part in vote rigging during the October election that allowed P ...

Botswana's President Ian Khama (L) with Mokgweetsi Masisi who later replaced him. But the two men have since fallen out.. By MONIRUL BHUIYAN (AFP)

Botswana's Khama hits out over corruption allegati...

Dec 11, 2019

Botswana's former President Ian Khama has hit back against corruption allegations, vowing to sue a lead investigator for ...

Victor: Mokgweetsi Masisi is sworn in as president after winning the October 23 elections. By Monirul Bhuiyan (AFP)

Botswana opposition in legal challenge over vote '...

Nov 26, 2019

Botswana's largest opposition on Tuesday said it had filed a legal challenge against the outcome of last month's parliam ...

Botswana has fended off criticism of lifting a hunting ban, saying it would not threaten the elephant population. By MONIRUL BHUIYAN (AFP)

Botswana to start issuing trophy hunting licences ...

Nov 18, 2019

Botswana's president announced on Monday the government will by December start issuing trophy hunting licences after it ...

Botswana's politics have been marked by a feud between former leader Ian Khama (L) and President Mokgweetsi Masisi. By MONIRUL BHUIYAN (AFP)

Botswana president sworn in promising to fight gra...

Nov 1, 2019

Botswana's newly reelected President Mokgweetsi Masisi was sworn in on Friday during a ceremony snubbed by his predecess ...

Scientists believe early humans lived in the wetlands south of the Zambezi river for 70,000 years before climate change allowed them to expand. By MONIRUL BHUIYAN (AFP/File)

Humanity's homeland found in ancient Botswana

Oct 28, 2019

Modern humans emerged 200,000 years ago in a region of northern Botswana, scientists claimed Monday, in what appeared to ...

Victor: President Mokgweetsi Masisi. By Michele Spatari (AFP/File)

Botswana's President Masisi wins hotly-contested e...

Oct 25, 2019

Incumbent president Mokgweetsi Masisi on Friday won a five-year term in Botswana's elections which saw his ruling party ...