19 Nov 2019

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi says relations between Botswana and other countries as well as international organisations has continued to mature and assume a more strategic significance.

In his State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) on November 18, President Masisi said this had been illustrated by the number of high level exchanges undertaken with other countries, bilateral engagements at various level of government, people to people interactions, the number of international conferences hosted and the leadership roles assumed in regional as well as international organisations.

He mentioned the state visits he undertook to Kenya and Qatar and high level visits by the heads of state of Rwanda and Namibia. 

He also mentioned the working visits he undertook to Unted States of America, Poland, Switzerland and South Africa.

President Masisi said regionally, he engaged extensively with his counterparts through structured bilateral mechanisms such as the Bi-National Commissions (BNC), noting that he also participated at the 32nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and government summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in February this year. He noted with satisfaction that in recognition of Botswana’s commitment towards the regional agenda, Botswana was elected to chair the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. 

He said Botswana also held membership in critical committees at both the United Nations and the African Union, the United Nations Economic and Social Council, the United Nations Committee of Conferences, the United Nations Committee on Programmes and Coordination as well as the African Unions Committee of Finance Ministers.

President Dr Masisi also said Botswana made headway in placing itself in strategic positions in international organisations citing the re-election of Dr Matshediso Moeti to the position of Africa Regional Director and the election of Justice Sanji Monageng as judge of the SADC Adminstrative Dispute Tribunal (SADCAT). For the first time ever, President Masisi said Botswana participated at the highest political level in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and in Cape Town, South Africa. Ends