The Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council for Botswana issued a statement on Friday urging the allocation of a budget and clear strategy to combat the marginalization of indigenous peoples in the country.
During an official country visit to Botswana from September 1 to 12, Special Rapporteur Albert K. Barume visited 12 cities and towns in the country, and met with President Duma Boko, various ministers, and representatives from indigenous communities, thereafter issuing a report on the current state of indigenous rights in Botswana.
While progress has been made in enhancing the rights of the indigenous population, the report highlights that indigenous Botswanans still face issues across political and social contexts. Particularly, the term “indigenous peoples,” having no precise legal definition, is subject to misunderstandings within the population and, according to Barume, constitutes a hindrance to implementing indigenous rights. While a majority of Batswana—the country’s majority ethnic group—are considered indigenous to the country, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights contends that they do not fall into the definition of “indigenous peoples.”
This confusion and lack of knowledge on indigenous peoples’ traditions reportedly result in a variety of discriminatory experiences, with the Rapporteur urging widespread government educational efforts. Relaying accounts from indigenous peoples, such as the San who constitute around 3% of the country’s population, Dr. Barume reported that:
Many described to me how they feel invisible or voiceless in their own homeland. Parents recounted, with palpable pain, how their children felt compelled to hide who they are from their classmates and teachers. The schoolyard, ideally a space of growth and acceptance, becomes instead a stage for ridicule. Children reported being mocked for their accents, their clothing, and mostly, for speaking their languages. The weight of this humiliation leads to a profound sense of shame.
In addition, the report urges the entrenchment of indigenous status in the constitution and formal recognition. Progress in this regard is ongoing with the recent ratification of ILO Convention No. 169, which prescribes a mandatory minimum standard for the recognition, protection, and promotion of the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples worldwide.
Barume highlighted other struggles indigenous peoples face, including access to land and resources, lack of government representation, ignorance of their customary practices, and a heightened cultural erosion of identities. Further, indigenous peoples reportedly feel excluded from access to public services, in particular education, with one San spokesman noting: “It seems like all government development policies and programmes were designed while we were sleeping. When we woke up, everything was designed to exclude us.”
Botswana’s current administration has established an inter-ministerial committee to address the current challenges facing the indigenous population and hinted at the possibility of lifting bans on hunting for the groups due to their cultural and economic significance.
A full report by the Special Rapporteur will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council at his next visit in September 2026.
