Botswana’s government has denied allegations that if exiled former President Ian Khama returns home, he will be arrested and killed.
Mr. Khama told the AFP news agency last week that he had information about plans to arrest and poison him upon his return from South Africa, where he has been living in exile since 2021.
He claims that the Botswana government is afraid of his influence ahead of the general elections next year.
However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, communication permanent secretary William Sentshebeng called Mr. Khama’s claim “outrageous and unfortunate.”
“We regard the claims as politically motivated and with the sole intention of tarnishing Botswana’s and her government’s good image,” Mr. Sentshebeng said.
With elections coming up next year, Mr. Khama has vowed to depose his handpicked successor, Mokgweetsi Masisi, who has since become a bitter rival whom he accuses of being a threat to democracy.
Mr. Khama stated that he would return home to “join with other parties to ensure that he [Mr. Masisi] and his party lose the elections.”
The former 70-year-old leader said he had a “full medical check” and updated his will because he was almost certain he would be arrested within days of arriving.
Mr. Khama, a former senior military officer, ruled one of Africa’s top diamond producers for a decade until 2018 when he handed over power to Mr. Masisi, his deputy.
The feud between him and his successor began in 2018 when President Masisi began to reverse some key policies implemented during Mr. Khama’s tenure.
Botswana issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Khama in December of last year, alleging unlawful possession of firearms.
President Masisi struck a more conciliatory tone the following month, but the rivalry between the two remains.
