Botswana’s ex-president, Ian Khama finally appeared in court to face charges of illegally owning a gun and receiving stolen property.
His appearance after returning from three years in exile resulted in the magistrate suspending two arrest warrants against him for failing to turn up to answer the charges back in April 2022.
Khama had been in exile, mostly in neighbouring South Africa, since late 2021 after falling out with his successor President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
Khama, whose father Seretse Khama was Botswana’s founding president, quit the ruling Botswana Democratic Party in 2019 and backs the opposition Botswana Patriotic Front and had previously said he would return to Botswana to help oust the incumbent in a national election on Oct. 30.
