Botswana is an oasis of peace

Botswana has the longest-lasting African democracy. It has been an independent state since 1966, and it has always enjoyed relative political stability, with no ethnic clashes or coups, unlike many other African states. The government also initiated environmental protection policies, with 17 percent of the territory designated as a natural reserve, imposing tourism restrictions in order to preserve its natural landscapes, the most spectacular and well-known example being the Okavango Delta.

Botswana is now one of only a few upper-middle-income African countries. In this position, it offers clues for how African countries can achieve economic prosperity. It had the world's fastest per capita growth rate in the 35 years preceding 2001. It has shown sustained and stable economic prosperity, a high level of intolerance for corruption and relative political stability, given the struggles most of its African counterparts have had with same. These are the fundamental pillars upon which the economic prosperity of this landlocked country of about 2 million people has been built.