29 Nov 2022

Botswana is hopeful for the establishment of a Morocco diplomatic mission locally, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has said.

  He told the visiting Moroccan  education and sports minister  Mr  Chakib Benmoussa yesterday that there were viable opportunities to enhance mutual knowledge and understanding between the two countries through political consultations as well as bilateral cooperation.

   A diplomatic mission would deepen Botswana/Morocco bilateral relations, Dr Masisi said adding that enhancement of relations should be top priority for the two countries.

 The President noted that the two countries had long established cordial relations dating back to  2005.

“It is worth noting that both countries are members of international organisation like African Union and the United Nations thus there are a lot of areas of interest that the two countries share,” President Masisi said.

 In response to Morocco’s request for Botswana’s support in its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations bid, President Masisi said the country had a good track record of hosting international sporting competitions, the July Women Africa Cup of Nations being the latest.

“I must admit that Morocco has done well in hosting the women’s nation cup which our ladies football team were a part of and represented us so well. Their performance was impressive considering the fact that it was their maiden AFCON appearance,” he said.

President Masisi said Morocco had made notable progress in football circles.

For his part, Mr Benmoussa said his country had identified  sport as one area that could be used to enhance relations between countries.

 Morocco, he said,  would therefore be counting on Botswana to support its bid.

 “Sport is a powerful tool to build relations and promote unity, hence we call on Botswana to throw her weight behind our bid,” he said.

 Mr Benmoussa said Morocco had hosted several continental competitions in recent years and that CAF executives had frequently expressed satisfaction with the country’s management of sporting events. ENDS