The High Court in Botswana has dismissed an application for a search and seizure warrant for the country’s former President, Ian Seletse Khama. 

Intelligence Director-General Peter Magosi’s application for permission to raid Khama’s residences was triggered by the allegation that Khama threatened Botswana’s security.

The former President has also previously been accused of conspiring to bring incumbent President Mokgweetsi Masisi down.

Social media was abuzz on Sunday, with reports that Khama’s arrest was imminent. However, the application for the warrant was not to take the former president into custody.

In the court papers, the Intelligence Agency says Khama may be in violation of the Penal Code which includes the concealment of treason, obtaining unlicensed firearms, and possession of arms of war.

This goes back to a case of three of Khama’s private security being accused of possessing illegal firearms. The matter was later dismissed due to a lack of evidence.

Khama and his predecessor Mokgweetsi Masisi had a fallout in the run-up to the 2019 elections and there’s been a cold war ever since.