30 Jul 2026

President Advocate Duma Boko has urged African countries to overcome colonial-era stereotypes and work together to harness the continent’s natural resources for the benefit of its people.

Speaking during a courtesy call by Côte d›Ivoire’s Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly, at the Office of the President yesterday, President Boko said the time had come for Africa to unite beyond barriers of distance and language.

“It is time for Africa to come together as one, overcome barriers such as distance and language, and build a future founded on unity, cooperation and shared prosperity,” he said.

The President noted that while Africa was endowed with abundant minerals, energy resources and human capital, many nations continued to lag behind economically.

He commended Côte d›Ivoire for reaching out to Botswana to establish a lasting partnership that would benefit both countries and contribute to continental development.

“As African countries, we must move beyond extraction and commit to deeper cooperation, stronger value chains and shared growth across the continent,” President Boko said.

He added that strengthened relations between Botswana and Côte d›Ivoire would not only cement bilateral ties but also help mobilise African expertise, promote skills exchange, and accelerate development in line with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The visit, he said, reflects a broader shift across Africa towards stronger collaboration, knowledge sharing and African-led value addition. It is through such partnerships, he noted, that citizens of both countries would be empowered while advancing the broader vision of a united and economically integrated Africa.

President Boko accepted an invitation to be the keynote speaker at the Premier Mining and Energy Conference scheduled for November in Côte d›Ivoire. He reaffirmed Botswana’s commitment to building a mutually beneficial relationship with Côte d›Ivoire.

For his part, Minister Coulibaly said his delegation was in Botswana to learn from one of the world’s leading mining jurisdictions.

“Today, Botswana is recognised as one of the top mining jurisdictions, not only in Africa but in the world,” he said.

He explained that Côte d›Ivoire was particularly interested in Botswana’s experience in managing natural resources over the past decades, describing the engagement as a practical demonstration of the spirit of Pan-Africanism. Côte d›Ivoire is keen to deepen cooperation with Botswana in the mining and energy sectors through practical exchanges on resource governance, investment structuring, exploration strategies and long-term sector sustainability. ENDS