A court in Botswana has issued an arrest warrant for former President Ian Khama. The judge issued orders that Mr Khaa should be arrested on sight for 14 charges ranging from unlawful possession of firearms to money laundering.
The arrest warrant follows Khama’s failure to appear for trial earlier this year. Ian Khama was formally charged in April but has not yet appeared in court.
He has denied the charges and says they are part of a political conspiracy after he fell out with his successor President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
“This warrant is the latest in a long, long line of actions that Masisi and his regime have targeted me with in order to remove me from the scene as we go towards the 2024 general elections”, Khama said.
“I have been and I will continue being more and more targeted in this manner because I remain the most constant voice condemning and exposing Masisi for the incompetent failure that he is.” he added.
Khama also said that he will welcome any extradition request that will enable him to expose what he calls “fabrications” by the government but adds he will tread with caution.
Mr Khama left office in 2018 after two five-year terms. He then fled to neighbouring South Africa a year ago, after a bitter fallout with his hand-picked successor.
Khama was charged along with former intelligence boss Isaac Kgosi, suspended police commissioner Keabetswe Makgophe and Victor Paledi, a former government employee.
Under Botswana law, illegal possession of firearms carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
