Researchers working in Botswana say they’ve found asteroid fragments scattered across the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR), a discovery that followed the sudden arrival of the asteroid and subsequent meteor fireball witnessed last month across southern Africa. This is only the second time in history that a small asteroid observed…
The cold winter blast that brought snow to South Africa this week is affecting other countries in the region, including Botswana – where the government issued a statement saying students could bring blankets to school on Tuesday and Wednesday in order to stay warm while learning. Temperatures were expected to…
Botswana continues to be an economic bright spot in southern Africa, with the latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) assessment showing a rebound from slower GDP growth in 2017 that’s tied to stronger diamond sales and higher government spending. The IMF assessment team, led by Enrique Gelbard, completed a visit to Gaborone…
South Africa is the next stop for President Brahim Ghali, leader of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), as he continues a tour of southern African nations ahead of an upcoming African Union summit. Ghali arrived in Johannesburg on Saturday, where he was met by the Sahrawi Ambassador to South…
Botswana’s new president is now sworn into office following Sunday inauguration ceremonies in Gaborone, and he promises to continue the legacy of the outgoing Ian Khama in developing the country into one of Africa’s most stable and progressive nations. “It is because of the peace and tranquility that our leaders…
Biodiversity continues to decline in every region of the world, and that’s especially a concern for Africa, according to newly released regional reports from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). “Africa is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and this is going to have…
It wouldn’t be the first time that the Government of Botswana and its outgoing President Ian Khama pressed for change in a neighboring African country. Khama provoked Robert Mugabe, the ossified former leader of Zimbabwe, on more than one occasion by publicly calling on him to step down and accused…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
President Ian Khama is completing a farewell tour of Botswana as he prepares to leave office at the end of March – and he’s been using the opportunity to criticize other African leaders for their failure to step down in keeping with their constitutions and the will of the people….
The race doesn’t always go to the swift, nor the battle to the strong – and new research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) at the University of London aims to understand more about why, at least among Africa’s big cats. The study conducted by RVC Professor Alan Wilson in…
China says it has shut down 143 ivory retail outlets and 34 processing facilities since the country’s ban on ivory went into effect at the beginning of the year. The measures have been well received by Beijing’s African partners, said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lu Kang during Thursday’s regular…
One can’t help but wonder what was going through the minds of Botswana’s Ministry of International Affairs staff this week, as they prepared the official response to United States President Donald Trump’s reported remarks about African nations. It’s hard to imagine, without wincing, any real-life scenario in which thoughtful diplomats…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
President of Botswana Ian Khama is preparing to leave office after 10 years, and he’s launched a farewell tour in which he plans to visit communities in all 57 of the nation’s constituencies. Khama began his tour this week in Moshupa-Manyana, and on Saturday planned to visit Tsabong. He has…
Emmerson Mnangagwa was inaugurated as president Friday in Zimbabwe, before packed crowds at the National Sports Stadium in Harare. Mnangagwa replaces the 93-year-old Robert Mugabe, whose resignation after 37 years in power was forced by a political crisis within his Zanu PF party and backed by the nation’s military last…
Mauritius remains the highest-ranking African nation for good governance, although with some of the warning signs and slowing improvement found in nearly half of the countries on the continent, according to the annual Mo Ibrahim Foundation report released Monday. The 2017 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) measures a range…
President of Botswana Ian Khama delivered his final State of the Nation address Monday, as he prepares for the end of his term and the transition to Vice President Mokgweetsi E. K. Masisi’s tenure. In the address, Khama reiterated “Botswana’s strong support for the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is the…