Duma Gideon Boko has officially taken the oath of office as Botswana’s new president in a ceremony led by Chief Justice Terrence Rannowane in the capital, Gaborone. Boko was declared the winner of Wednesday’s general election, ending the nearly sixty-year dominance of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).

In his inaugural address, Boko thanked the citizens of Botswana for their trust, pledging to work diligently to fulfill his responsibilities. “I am honored by the confidence the people of Botswana have placed in me,” he stated.

The Independent Electoral Commission confirmed that opposition parties, led by Boko’s Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), secured at least 35 out of 61 parliamentary seats, granting them the majority needed to form a government. This shift ousted outgoing President Mokgweetsi Masisi, who conceded defeat graciously, expressing his readiness for a well-earned rest after a term marked by six-day workweeks.

The opposition coalition’s success was marked by the UDC winning 22 seats, the Botswana Congress Party securing eight, and the Botswana Patriotic Front, supported by allies of former President Ian Khama, claiming five seats.

As reported by *Mmegi*, this election officially ends the BDP’s rule, which has lasted since Botswana’s independence in 1966. The constitution mandates that the majority party in parliament elects the president, solidifying Boko’s path to leadership and ushering in a new era for Botswana.