Botswana During the past twenty years Botswana has come from being one of the poorest countries to being considered one of the richest non-oil producing countries. This growth happens when a majority of the continent was struggling with African socialism. Within South Africa Botswana was encircled by countries at war. During this time the Rhodesian war had entered into the boarders of Botswana. After the agreement of 1979 the civil war increased in Botswana. There were two devastating droughts during the 1970s and 1980s that caused economic hardship. Some of these losses included loss of livestock, and the demand for food aid