Arrest warrant issued for ex-president living in South Africa

Botswana has issued an arrest warrant for former President Jan Khama on charges of illegal possession of firearms.

Khama, who currently resides in neighboring South Africa, denies the allegations, his lawyer said.

The former president was formally indicted last April but has yet to face trial.

AND Botswana the court issued an arrest warrant for Hama on Thursday.

Khama, 69, who was Botswana’s president between 2008 and 2018, has been in South Africa for about a year after falling out with his chosen successor, President Mokwitsi Masisi.

He said that he is now being persecuted for opposing Masisi.

“There was no crime. I didn’t do anything wrong,” Khama told South Africa’s state broadcaster SABC.

Former President of Botswana Hama Jan Hama on arrest warrant. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/Msihr79oY0

— Sophie Mokoena (@Sophie_Mokoena) December 30, 2022

He said the warrant is part of Masisi’s campaign to go after him as Botswana moves closer to the general. elections in 2024.

“I have been and will continue to be more and more targeted in this way because I remain the most constant voice denouncing and exposing Masisi for the incompetence that he is,” Khama told VOA.

An arrest warrant has been issued for former Botswana President Jan Hama.

Khama faces 14 criminal charges, ranging from illegal possession of firearms to receiving stolen property.

He is waging a war of words with the current president, Mr. Masisi. pic.twitter.com/XMUGeiqo74

— Hopewell Chinono (@daddyhope) December 29, 2022

Botswana has not yet applied to South Africa for Khama’s extradition.

Khama, son of Botswana’s first president, Seretse Khama, was the fourth president of the southern African a country.

After serving as Commander of the Botswana Defense Force, Khama served as Vice President from 1998 to 2008 before becoming President when Festus Mogae stepped down.

Khama was re-elected in the 2009 elections and won re-election again in 2014, leaving office after two five-year terms.

He left the ruling Democratic Party of Botswana in 2019 and is now a patron of the splinter Botswana Patriotic Front.

The Western Journal reviewed this Associated Press article and may have revised it prior to publication to meet our editorial standards.