10 Nov 2025

African neighbours should seek each other out to increase trade amongst themselves, President Advocate Duma Boko has said.

President Boko said this during a courtesy call from the Angolan Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, Mr Diamantino Pedro Azevedo recently.

He said the starting point for Africa was intra-African trade espoused in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The President said African states must open trade to each other, within regional blocs and across Africa, adding that the AfCFTA was a crucial pillar for engagement among African countries.

He emphasised the need for partnerships and collaborations among African states before they could effectively trade with other regions.

“We need to support and complement each other,” said President Boko, noting that unnecessary competition among states was a major problem facing African nations in their development endeavours.

He also mentioned that Angola had extended an invitation to Botswana to participate in the Lobito refinery project, a key project for Angola’s state-owned enterprise, aimed at reducing the country’s reliance on imported refined petroleum products.

He noted that earlier this year, he met with the Angolan President, where they explored possible areas of partnership and collaboration.

He further stressed the importance of operationalising such partnerships for seamless trade between the two countries.

For his part, Mr Azevedo said he had met with his Botswana counterpart, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo, and discussed areas of support and cooperation.

He said the two countries were key diamond-producing countries and needed to explore further collaboration opportunities.

Meanwhile, President Boko also bid farewell to the Ambassador of Sahrawi, Mr Bah El Mad Abdellah.

The President thanked the outgoing ambassador for his service and commitment to Botswana.

He further reaffirmed Botswana’s support for Sahrawi’s independence and noted that the country stood in solidarity with the people of Sahrawi. ENDS