The top foreign policy challenges for Botswana�s next president

Botswana’s foreign policy has conformed to a new tone, and that is one of speaking out when normally a state of its size would be expected to keep quiet. This seems to be a defining feature of Botswana’s choice of diplomatic instruments under President Ian Khama. President Khama wasn’t the best chief diplomat Botswana has had. He presided over two terms of hazy foreign policy decision-making, at times rendering them ineffective.

While past administrations have employed a ‘wait and see’ approach with backchannel diplomatic routes in dealing with regional matters that were considered sensitive and multi-faceted, President Ian Khama went for an outspoken approach that drew both heavy criticism and applause for speaking truth to power (sort of). Leadership from Africa’s biggest economies notably dropped in 2016. President Khama’s pragmatic and tough approach seemed to fill up that void in speaking out for victims of human rights violations, fraudulent governments and despotic leaders.