Aobakwe Monamo has been appointed as the new Deputy Director General of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) by President Duma Boko. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree and a Diploma in Human Resources. As a dedicated human rights activist, Monamo has also contributed to various United Nations initiatives.
Monamo’s legal career began as a prosecutor at the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), where he served for several years. During his time at the DPP, Monamo frequently found himself on the opposite side of the courtroom from President Boko, then a practicing defense lawyer, in what were often high-stakes legal battles.
In 2010, Monamo joined the law firm Duma Boko & Co., becoming a partner in 2014. Although he handed over his partnership in 2019, he continued to practice as an attorney at the firm.
Throughout his career, Monamo has been involved in several high-profile cases:
• Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) Basarwa Rights Case: Monamo represented four Bushmen accused of poaching on their ancestral land. In 2014, the court dismissed the charges, affirming the Bushmen’s right to live and hunt in the CKGR.
• Thabo Malambane Case: Representing former Ghanzi Principal Magistrate Thabo Malambane, Monamo challenged the magistrate’s dismissal by President Ian Khama in 2014. The case, filed in the Industrial Court, questioned the lawfulness of the dismissal and sought compensation for unfair termination.
• Shathani Basiami Case: Monamo represented Shathani Basiami in a 2017 case against the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS) Director General Isaac Kgosi. The court ordered Kgosi to return Basiami’s confiscated travel documents, emphasizing that no one is above the law.
Observers today noted that Monamo’s extensive legal experience, coupled with his commitment to human rights advocacy and his ability to navigate complex legal and political terrains, positions him as a significant asset in his new role at the DIS.
