WATCH: Malema returns to Botswana after long ban!

EFF leader Julius Malema sets foot in the Republic of Botswana for the first time in over 10 years.

This after the previous Botswana government imposed a ban preventing Malema from visiting the country.

In 2011, as a leader of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), Malema called for a government change in Botswana.

At the time, he announced that the youth league would establish a command team to remove what he called a "puppet regime" of the country's then president, Ian Khama.

This led the Botswana government to list him as the only South African who needed a visa to cross its borders.

With the new government in the Batswana nation, the ban has been lifted, allowing Malema to attend new Botswana President Duma Boko's inauguration on Friday, 8 November.

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Boko was elected after his party, the Umbrella for Democratic Change, successfully won the 13th general elections held on 30 October.

Reacting to this, the EFF commended the new administration for lifting the ban, symbolising a commitment to freedom and democracy.

Speaking to the media outside the Botswana National Stadium, Malema said they were in Botswana to celebrate democracy in action, adding that nothing is happening back home that would destabilise the organisation.

Among those who attended the inauguration were Mzansi Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Build One SA (Bosa) leader Mmusi Maimane, and the EFF's head of international relations, Godrich Gardee.

Maimane said he recognises that democracy is not solely about elections but also about empowering citizens, building robust institutions, and ensuring transparency and accountability.

"As Botswana embarks on this new journey, we stand in solidarity with its citizens and newly elected leaders as they work towards the shared ideals of equality, progress, and opportunity for all.

"We're looking forward to continuing our partnership with Botswana's leadership to strengthen democracy across the region and are confident that Boko, as expected, will lead Botswana with the integrity and commitment it deserves," he said.