28 May 2026

Botswana Defence Force (BDF) has partnered with the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) to overhaul its cyber warfare and security capabilities in efforts to fortify national security against evolving digital threats.

To facilitate its mandate as the nation’s last line of defence against cyber warfare, state-sponsored attacks and critical infrastructure disruptions, the BDF signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the regulatory body.

Officials noted that effective online safety and security requires a multi-stakeholder collaborative approach and the MoU signifies commitment towards safeguarding the country’s digital environments.

Speaking at the launch in Gaborone on Wednesday, BOCRA chief executive officer, Mr Martin Mokgware highlighted that part of their mandate was to regulate the radio frequency spectrum through licensing of mobile operators, commercial broadcasters and other communication service providers.

“Radio frequency is a finite natural resource that enables connectivity and delivery of communication services and the BDF is one of the single major consumers of such an asset,” Mokgware said.

He asserted that BOCRA had remained resilient through network expansion and improving consumer access against a rapidly growing demand.

While ranked in the mid-to-lower tier by global military intelligence standards, he said BDF remained intentional in its quest to align with modern, tech-focused global trends by upgrading its cyber warfare capabilities.

For his part, BDF commander, General Mpho Mophuting, said BOCRA would be instrumental in helping the military to implement its intelligence mission in cyberspace through the MOU framework.

“As a start, BOCRA will guide us in procuring the right equipment to tackle today’s challenges. For Botswana’s security, this collaboration is much safer than entirely relying on external experts who may not share our national interests,” General Mophuting said.

Meanwhile, to operationalise the agreement, both parties would form dedicated working committees responsible for the planning, execution and monitoring of information-sharing protocols and also establish dispute resolution mechanisms to mitigate cybercrime within the digital economy.

Furthermore, both parties would exchange valuable information and resources across various fields, including human capital development, research, publications and direct cyber cooperation.

The current era of increased geopolitical tensions had resulted in a heightened use of interconnected technology as a weapon, hence the MoU would ensure that Botswana was properly mitigated and prepared for an effective and rapid response should a cyber incident be triggered. ENDS