Botswana's ruling party loses election, ending 58-year rule

People wait to cast their votes in the 2024 general elections in Morwa village near Gaborone, Botswana October 30, 2024. REUTERS/Thalefang Charles

GABORONE (Reuters) -Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat on Friday after preliminary results showed his party had lost its parliamentary majority by a landslide in this week's election, ending nearly six decades in power.

With more than half of constituencies reporting, the opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) had a significant lead, putting its leader, lawyer Duma Boko, on track to win the presidency.