Ian Khama Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency Ian Khama
Khama in 2014

4th President of Botswana
In office 1 April 2008 – 1 April 2018
Vice President	Mompati Merafhe (2008–2012) Ponatshego Kedikilwe (2012–2014) Mokgweetsi Masisi (2014–2018)
Preceded by	Festus Mogae
Succeeded by	Mokgweetsi Masisi
5th Vice-President of Botswana
In office 13 July 1998 – 1 April 2008
President	Festus Mogae
Preceded by	Festus Mogae
Succeeded by	Mompati Merafhe

Personal details
Born	Ian Seretse Khama (1953-02-27) 27 February 1953 (age 72) Ewell, Surrey, England
Political party	Botswana Patriotic Front (since 2019)
Other political affiliations	Botswana Democratic Party (until 2019)
Parents	Seretse Khama (father) Ruth Williams (mother)
Relatives	Tshekedi Khama II (brother)
Alma mater	Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Military service
Allegiance	Botswana
Years of service	1977–1998
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands	Botswana Defence Force

Seretse Khama Ian Khama (born 27 February 1953) is a politician and former army officer from Botswana. He served as the fourth President of Botswana from 2008 to 2018. Before becoming president, he was the Commander of the Botswana Defence Force. He then entered politics, serving as the Vice-President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008.

Early Life and Family
Education and Military Service
Political Career
Presidency of Botswana
- First Years as President
- Second Term (2014–2018)
Political Views and Policies
Life After the Presidency
Honours and Awards
- Honours
See also

Early Life and Family

Ian Khama was born in Surrey, England. His father was Sir Seretse Khama, who was a key leader in Botswana's fight for independence and its first president. His mother was Lady Khama. At the time of Ian's birth, his parents were living in the United Kingdom because the British colonial government and South Africa's apartheid government did not approve of their marriage.

Khama comes from a family of important leaders. His grandfather, Sekgoma II, was the paramount chief (the highest-ranking leader) of the Bamangwato people. His great-grandfather was King Khama III, and his great-great-grandfather was Chief Kgosikgolo Sekgoma I.

His father's name, "Seretse," means “the clay that binds together.” It was given to him to celebrate a time when his own father and grandfather made peace with each other. Ian Khama was named after his father to carry on this important family history.

Education and Military Service

Ian Khama went to school at Waterford Kamhlaba, a United World College in Mbabane. He also trained at the famous Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom and is a skilled pilot.

In 1977, at the age of 24, Khama became a brigadier general in the army. He was the deputy commander of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF). In 1989, he was promoted to Commander of the BDF. He retired from the military in 1998 after receiving several awards for his long and dedicated service.

Political Career

Khama during a state visit to Chile in 2017

After leaving the military in 1998, Ian Khama entered the world of politics. When President Quett Masire retired, the Vice-President, Festus Mogae, became the new president. Mogae then chose Khama to be his vice-president.

To become vice-president, Khama needed a seat in the National Assembly (Botswana's parliament). He easily won a special election in the Serowe North area. On 13 July 1998, he officially became the Vice-President of Botswana. By taking this political role, he gave up his right to be a traditional chief, as Botswana's laws prevent chiefs from being active in party politics.

In 2003, Khama was elected Chairman of his political party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). This was an important step that put him on the path to becoming the next president.

In 2007, Khama appeared on the British TV show Top Gear. He met the show's hosts as they were preparing for a special episode where they drove across the Makgadikgadi Pan in Botswana.

Presidency of Botswana

On 1 April 2008, President Mogae stepped down, and Ian Khama became the fourth President of Botswana. He promised to continue the country's successful policies while bringing his own style of leadership.

First Years as President

As president, Khama focused on improving the country. In 2008, a law called the Media Practitioners Act was passed. It was created to help journalists be more professional, but some people worried it could limit free speech.

In 2009, Khama and the BDP won the general election. This meant he could serve a full five-year term as president. However, his party was divided into two main groups, which led to some disagreements. One politician, Gomolemo Motswaledi, left the BDP to start a new party called the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD).

During his first term, a sad event occurred when three soldiers were found responsible for the death of a man named John Kalifatis. The soldiers were sent to prison, but in 2012, President Khama gave them a presidential pardon, which means he officially forgave them. This decision caused a lot of debate in the country.

A major achievement during this time was Khama's decision to ban elephant hunting in 2014 to protect the animals.

Second Term (2014–2018)

In the 2014 general election, Khama won a second and final term as president. His party, the BDP, won the most seats in the National Assembly.

In 2015, Khama received an honorary doctorate degree in political science from Konkuk University in South Korea. This is a special award given to honor his work.

Political Views and Policies

As president, Ian Khama was known for his strong opinions on international issues. He often spoke out against governments in Africa that he felt were not democratic or fair to their people, such as the government of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe.

Protecting Wildlife

Khama is very passionate about protecting wildlife. He continued the ban on elephant hunting and supported many conservation projects in Botswana. In 2018, he criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for policies that he believed encouraged elephant poaching.

Developing the Economy

Khama believed that Botswana should not depend only on its diamond mines for money. He worked to strengthen other parts of the economy, such as farming and tourism, to create more jobs and opportunities for the people of Botswana.

National Security

Under Khama, the government created the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS). This agency is similar to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States. While some people supported it, others worried that it could be used to target political opponents.

Life After the Presidency

Ian Khama's presidency ended on 1 April 2018, and Mokgweetsi Masisi became the new president. After leaving office, Khama had disagreements with President Masisi. He left the BDP and joined a new party, the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF).

In 2018, Khama joined the board of Conservation International, an American organization that works to protect nature around the world.

After spending three years living outside of Botswana, Khama returned in September 2024. On 30 November 2024, he officially became the Kgosikgolo (paramount chief) of the BaNgwato people, taking the royal name Khama IV. This ended a long period where the BaNgwato were led by regents instead of a chief. On 20 January 2025, he was sworn into the Ntlo ya Dikgosi, a group of traditional chiefs who advise the government.