Seretse Khama Ian Khama
| Ian Khama | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) |
|
| 4th President of Botswana | |
|
Assumed office 1 April 2008 |
|
| Vice President |
Mompati Merafhe Ponatshego Kedikilwe Mokgweetsi Masisi |
| Preceded by | Festus Mogae |
| 5th Vice President of Botswana | |
|
In office 13 July 1998 – 1 April 2008 |
|
| President | Festus Mogae |
| Preceded by | Festus Mogae |
| Succeeded by | Mompati Merafhe |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Seretse Khama 27 February 1953 Chertsey, England, UK |
| Political party | Botswana Democratic Party |
| Parents |
Seretse Khama (father) Ruth Williams (mother) |
| Alma mater | Royal Military Academy Sandhurst |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 Botswana
|
| Years of service | 1977–1998 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | Botswana Defence Force |
Seretse Khama Ian Khama (or Ian a Serêtsê; born 27 February 1953) is a Motswana politician who has been the President of Botswana since 2008. After serving as Commander of the Botswana Defence Force, he entered politics and served as Vice-President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008, then succeeded Festus Mogae as President on 1 April 2008. He won a full term in the 2009 election and was re-elected in October 2014.
Ian Khama is the first-born son and second child of Sir Seretse Khama (1 July 1921 – 13 July 1980), who was the country's foremost independence leader and President from 1966 to 1980, and Lady Khama. He was born in Chertsey, Surrey during the period in which his father was exiled to the United Kingdom due to the opposition by the colonial government and the emergent apartheid regime in South Africa to his marriage to a white woman.
He is also the grandson of Sekgoma II (1869–1925), who was the paramount chief of the Bamangwato people, and the great-grandson of Khama III (1837–1923), their king; and the great-great grandson of Kgosikgolo Sekgoma I, the Chief of the Bamangwato people (1815–1885). The name "Seretse" means “the clay that binds together”, and was given to his father to celebrate the recent reconciliation of his father and grandfather; this reconciliation assured Seretse Khama's ascension to the throne when his aged father died in 1925. Seretse Khama Ian Khama is named after his father to continue this historical legacy. He is also known simply as Ian Khama to differentiate between himself and his father. Tshekedi Khama II, Ian Khama's brother, was named after their great uncle, Tshekedi Khama who was the regent and guardian for Kgosi Seretse Khama, the first President of Botswana.
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