The Country in the Middle

Botswana, land of the Kalahari Desert, has been a model of democratic governance with low levels of corruption and general respect for human rights for more than three decades. Its economic growth rate (due primarily to diamond revenues) has been among the highest in the world for over thirty years. As a result, the U.S. Embassy engages in a wide range of human and economic activities encompassing numerous programs in Botswana and with the South African Development Corporation. Tragically, however, Botswana is a world leader in another area, HIV/AIDS, and approximately 39% of adults aged 15-49 are believed to be HIV positive.