Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi announced on Friday that he would “step aside” following a significant defeat for his party in the general elections, according to preliminary results.

“I want to congratulate the opposition on their victory and concede the election,” Masisi stated at a press conference, describing the journey as “good.”

His party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), has governed the diamond-rich nation since it gained independence from Britain in 1966.

While official results from Wednesday’s vote are expected later on Friday, early counts indicate that three opposition parties collectively secured at least 31 of the 61 seats in the national legislature. Under Botswana’s electoral rules, the first party to reach 31 seats will be declared the winner and will appoint its candidate as president.

Masisi, who took office in 2018, pledged to “begin all administrative work to facilitate the transition.”

“We are quite happy to transition into a loyal opposition and hold the government accountable,” said the 63-year-old leader, who had been confident about winning a second term.

The left-leaning Umbrella for Democratic Change reportedly won over 24 seats, according to party official Mike Keakopa, and is aiming to secure 31 seats to claim an outright victory.

If confirmed, their candidate, Duma Boko, a Harvard-educated human rights lawyer, would become the next president. The other two opposition parties, the Botswana Congress Party and the Botswana Patriotic Front, together captured around a dozen seats.