08 Oct 2025

Botswana remains committed to the fair, full, and effective implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The Assistant Minister for State President, Ms Maipelo Mophuting said at the General Regional Training Course on the Chemical Weapons Convention for National Authorities and Relevant Stakeholders in Africa on Tuesday.

Ms Mophuting noted that Botswana acceded to the Convention in August 1998, becoming a state party shortly thereafter.

She said since then, the country had made meaningful progress through the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act of 2018 and the establishment of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Weapons Management Authority, as a competent body ensuring that the country lived up to its global responsibilities.

“We have continued to submit our annual declarations on schedule and fulfill our financial obligations, as a reflection of integrity and accountability,” she said.

Ms Mophuting said the Chemical Weapons Convention was not just another international agreement but represented one of humanity’s greatest triumphs against weapons of mass destruction.

She stressed that it was essential that the horrors of chemical warfare had no place in the shared future, noting that the convention’s goal was a world free of chemical weapons.

“And for Botswana, this is not merely a diplomatic commitment; it is a moral one. It is about safeguarding life, protecting creation, and preserving peace for generations yet to come,” said Ms Mophuting.

Across Africa, she said there had been inspiring progress in advancing peace and security through collaboration and multilateralism.

Ms Mophuting further added that the training would strengthen not just technical capabilities but also the country’s commitment to chemical safety and security.

“By hosting this course, we reaffirm that Africa has the capacity to build solutions for Africa by Africa. We believe that every step we take in this journey contributes not just to regional security but to the global peace we all seek,” she said.

The Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Weapons Management Authority deputy director, Dr Janes Mokgadi, said the training, attended by various African states, would encourage the sharing of best practices among participating member states.

Dr Mokgadi said it was the first time that the country hosted the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) event of such magnitude, which she said underscored the country’s commitment to the war against chemical, radiological, and biological weapons and ensuring the safety and security of humanity.

She said through collaboration, compliance with the convention could be enforced, hence contributing to global and regional stability.

OPCW project manager and head of delegation, Ms Elena Gjoreska, said across the region, there had been improvements and stronger collaboration, but there were challenges that called for capacity building and collaboration.

The course would address capacity building and collaboration, adding that the training would deepen participants’ understanding and facilitate the exchange of best practices for effective implementation, Ms Gjoreska.

The General Regional Training Course on the Chemical Weapons Convention for National Authorities and Relevant Stakeholders ends today. ENDS