11 Aug 2026

The Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and the United States army have reaffirmed their shared history of cooperation, mutual commitment to global peace and steadfast dedication to defending democratic ideals.

Officially opening the multinational military exercise Southern Accord 2026, BDF director of general support services, Major General Molefi Seikanyo, stated that the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century was fluid, unpredictable and often asymmetrical, hence the need for synchronised responses and deep-rooted partnerships.

“No single nation, no matter how powerful or resourceful, can confront these security realities in isolation. The challenges of our time demand collective action. They require synchronized responses and deep-rooted partnerships,” Maj Gen Seikanyo said.

He emphasised that the exercise served as an institutional response to modern global security demands, a crucial opportunity during peacetime to test operational readiness and reinforce shared resolve to safeguard citizens.

The alliance, he noted, was built on a shared strategic vision, the belief that a secure, stable and prosperous Africa was vital to global peace.

He added that maintaining a highly trained and disciplined military remained a cornerstone of Botswana’s national development strategy.

Maj Gen Seikanyo highlighted that such joint exercises were part of the BDF’s ongoing efforts to boost operational readiness, deepen defense cooperation and promote regional security.

The first initiative, Exercise Southern Accord 2026 (Ex SA-26), is being conducted in partnership with the United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM) through the North Carolina National Guard from August 10-15.

Hosted under the theme, Strength through Collaboration, the exercise, first held in Botswana in 2012, is designed to strengthen interoperability, improve interagency coordination and enhance capabilities in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, cyber and space domain awareness, crisis response planning and whole-of-government coordination.

Following Ex SA-26, the BDF and the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) will co-host Exercise Tshwaragano III from August 30 to September 11, in Lobatse.

This marks the third instalment of the Tshwaragano/Hanganee bilateral training series, held under the theme, Enhancing Joint Cooperation: Ubuntu in Arms.

The initiative aims to strengthen the long-standing military partnership between the BDF and NDF through joint training, enhanced interoperability and the exchange of best practices.

Together, the exercises reaffirm the BDF’s commitment to building professional defense partnerships, elevating collective preparedness and actively contributing to regional and international peace and stability. ENDS