23 Aug 2023

Botswana’s newly appointed Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr Gladys Mokhawa on Tuesday presented her credentials to United Nations Secretary General, Mr António Guterres, in New York.

Ambassador Mokhawa, who is the country’s first female Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, takes over from Ambassador Collen Kelapile following her appointment by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, earlier this month.

A press release from the from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that Ambassador Mokhawa has a wealth of experience in international relations, diplomacy and public policy fields.

She joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2020 and was appointed as the ministry’s first female permanent secretary in 2021.

As the executive head of the ministry, Ambassador Mokhawa was a key driver in advancing Botswana’s national interests on the bilateral, regional and multilateral platforms.

Prior to joining the Ministry of Foreign affairs, Dr Mokhawa worked extensively in academia and among her various roles, she headed the department of political and administrative studies at the University of Botswana. She is also widely published.

As Botswana’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, Dr Mokhawa is positioned to promote the country’s interests at the UN, as well as, strengthen relations with two countries that the mission is concurrently accredited to, namely, Jamaica and Cuba.

 Botswana’s Mission to the UN is one of the country’s oldest diplomatic missions having been established in 1966. ENDS