Former Botswana leader Khama, who was exiled, has returned home after the court has suspended warrants

Ian Khama, the former president of Botswana, appeared in court on Friday to confront allegations of unlawfully possessing a firearm and misappropriating stolen assets. This occurred following his return from a three-year period of exile, which preceded an election where his adversary is vying for a second term.

On Friday, the magistrate revoked two arrest orders against him due to his failure to appear and respond to the allegations filed against him in April 2022. Since late 2021, Khama has been in exile, primarily in the neighbouring country of South Africa.

The charges encompass illegal possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property, and obtaining the registration of a firearm by deceptive means. The previous president has refuted these claims and asserts that they are driven by political motives.

Following a disagreement with his successor President Mokgweetsi Masisi, Khama, whose father Seretse Khama served as Botswana’s founding president, resigned from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party in 2019.

Khama supports the opposition Botswana Patriotic Front and has previously expressed his intention to go back to Botswana to assist in the removal of the current country leader in a national election scheduled on October 30th.

According to magistrate Mareledi Dipate, his next court appearance is scheduled for September 23rd.