UN to probe Botswana on Basarwa rights

The United Nations has announced it will launch a probe into Botswana’s treatment of the Basarwa, also known as the San, following persistent allegations of human rights violations against the indigenous community. The investigation comes amid growing international concern over the government’s policies on land rights, access to natural resources, and participation in national development programs. According to the UN Human Rights Council, the inquiry will focus on whether Botswana has upheld its obligations under international treaties protecting indigenous peoples. Advocacy groups have long accused the government of forcibly relocating the Basarwa from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR), restricting their access to ancestral hunting grounds, and denying them adequate consultation in policymaking.

“The Basarwa remain one of the most marginalized groups in Southern Africa, facing systemic exclusion from social and economic opportunities,” the Council said in a statement. Botswana, however, has defended its policies, insisting that it is committed to protecting the rights of all citizens equally. Government officials argue that relocation programs were aimed at improving service delivery, including education, healthcare, and clean water access, which are difficult to provide in remote areas of the CKGR. The probe will also examine recent reports that Basarwa communities continue to struggle with poverty, limited access to healthcare, and barriers to participation in the political process. Human rights organisations such as Survival International have welcomed the UN’s decision, describing it as “a long overdue step toward accountability.”

Botswana’s government is expected to present its position before the UN later this year. The findings of the inquiry could have significant implications for the country’s international reputation, particularly as it seeks to attract global investment and strengthen its human rights record.

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