Botswana Issues Arrest Warrant For Former President

An arrest warrant has been issued for former Botswana President Ian Khama for possessing illegal firearms.

Khama, 69, served as president for two five-year terms before leaving the position in 2018. On Thursday, regional magistrate Mareledi Dipate issued the warrant stating Khama should be arrested on sight.

Khama is facing 14 charges, including money laundering and handling stolen property, but the warrant was issued for possessing five illegal firearms, the BBC reports. Khama was charged alongside state intelligence officials and police.

The illegal possession of firearms holds a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison under Botswana law, according to AfricaNews.

Khama did not appear for a trial date earlier this year. The former president has left Botswana and is believed to be living in a self-imposed exile in South Africa. The arrest warrant could make it easier for Botswana to get Khama extradited.

Khama has openly denied the charges against him, saying they are motivated by a political conspiracy. Khama is the son of Botswana's first president Seretse Khama.

The transition processes between Khama and his predecessor, president Mokgweetsi Masisi, went smoothly, but several months later, a rift formed between the two, and Khama began supporting an opposition party during national elections.

Local news site Mmegi interviewed Khama, who said he would welcome the extradition process, adding it would offer him the opportunity to expose the "lies and fabrication" Masisi and "his cronies" are sharing about him.

After Khama was first charged in April, he told BBC's "Focus on Africa" that Masisi and his government wanted to do him "harm."

"He wants to eliminate me before the 2024 elections because he views me as his biggest stumbling block to his re-election," Khama said.

The government fired back at Khama's statements, saying his accusations were "outrageous" and a narrative "devoid of any truth."