Duma Boko facts for kids
Duma Gideon Boko (born on December 31, 1969) is a Motswana politician and lawyer. He is currently the sixth President of Botswana, a role he started on November 1, 2024. He has also been the leader of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) since 2012. Before becoming president, he served as the Leader of the Opposition from 2014 to 2019.
Boko became the head of the BNF party in 2010. He then helped create the Umbrella for Democratic Change, which is a group of major opposition parties in Botswana working together. He ran as the UDC's presidential candidate in the national elections in 2014 and 2019. In the 2024 election, he led his party to win, and he became President of Botswana on November 1, 2024. He is the first president in Botswana's history who is not from the Botswana Democratic Party.
Quick facts for kids
Duma Boko
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Boko in 2025
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| 6th President of Botswana | |
| Assumed office 1 November 2024 |
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| Vice President | Ndaba Gaolathe |
| Preceded by | Mokgweetsi Masisi |
| President of the Umbrella for Democratic Change | |
| Assumed office November 2012 |
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| Vice President | Ndaba Gaolathe |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 25 October 2014 – 28 August 2019 |
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| President |
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| Preceded by | Dumelang Saleshando |
| Succeeded by | Dumelang Saleshando |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 31 December 1969 Mahalapye, Botswana |
| Political party | Botswana National Front |
| Other political affiliations |
Umbrella for Democratic Change |
| Spouse | Kaone Boko |
| Alma mater | University of Botswana (LLB) Harvard Law School (LLM) |
| Profession |
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| Cabinet | Boko cabinet |
Contents
Early Life and Education
Duma Boko was born in a village called Mahalapye in Botswana's Central District. His father, who passed away in 2004, was a teacher at Madiba Brigades. Duma Boko also has a sister named Emma Boko.
In 1987, Boko began studying law at the University of Botswana. While there, he was chosen to be part of the Student Representative Council (SRC). He graduated in 1993. After that, he went to Harvard Law School in the United States, where he earned a Master of Laws degree.
Professional Career
After finishing his studies, Boko returned to Botswana. From 1993 to 2003, he taught law at the University of Botswana. During this time, he also managed his own law firm. In the early 2000s, he wrote articles for a newspaper called The Monitor. In these articles, he shared his thoughts that judges and academics needed to do more research to make better decisions.
Political Journey
Duma Boko became the leader of the Botswana National Front (BNF) party in 2010. Some people questioned his right to lead because of an earlier split in the party. However, he won in court and kept his position. He took over the party when it was not doing very well.
The BNF then joined with other parties, including the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) and the Botswana Peoples Party. Together, they formed the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). Some members of the BNF were worried that joining this group would make their party disappear. But Boko and the BNF won all the court cases against the coalition.
2014 General Election
In the 2014 Botswana general election, Boko led the UDC. They came in second place in the National Assembly, winning 17 seats. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) won 37 seats. After this election, Boko became the leader of the opposition.
2019 General Election
During the 2019 Botswana general election, Boko lost his seat in the Gaborone Bonnington North area to Anna Mokgethi from the BDP. Because he lost his seat, he also lost his role as leader of the opposition in the 12th National Assembly. Boko claimed that there were problems with the voting process in 2019.
2024 General Election
Even though some parties left the UDC, Boko's party and the other opposition parties managed to win most of the seats in the 2024 Botswana general election. The BDP, which had been in power for a long time, won only four seats. As the leader of the winning group, Boko became the president-elect. He was sworn into office on November 1, 2024, with a bigger public ceremony on November 8. This was a historic moment because it was the first time since Botswana became independent in 1966 that a former opposition party won an election. President Boko appointed Lesego Chombo as the Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs.
Presidency
As president, Duma Boko has shared his plans for Botswana. He mentioned that he wants to give temporary work and living permits to Zimbabweans who do not have official documents. He also plans to talk with De Beers again about the agreements for Botswana's diamond industry.
..... He also announced that he was talking with Elon Musk to bring affordable internet access across the country through Starlink. In March 2025, Boko attended the launch of Botswana's first satellite, BOTSAT-1, into space. The satellite was launched from SpaceX facilities in California, USA.
See also
In Spanish: Duma Boko para niños
