16 Jan 2025

Although Botswana and Guinea-Bissau have enjoyed good bilateral relations over the past few decades, more could be achieved to ensure more tangible, mutually beneficial outcomes.

President Advocate Duma Boko expressed these sentiments while welcoming the visiting President of Guinea-Bissau, General Umaro Sissico Embalo for official talks at the Office of the President on Wednesday.

President Boko said the visit signified an opportune moment for the two states to explore strengthened relations in various fields.

"Botswana was one of the first countries to recognise the independence of Guinea-Bissau in 1973. Our relations have been solid over the years but have not yielded much. We should now look at tangible partnerships in areas such as agriculture a key driver of the Guinea-Bissau economy, while we in Botswana want to develop climate smart agriculture,” President Boko said.

He added that Botswana had vast expertise and experience in responsible mining and was willing to share ideas with their West African counterparts in the field, as well to pursue collaboration in other areas such as education and health.

President Boko said together with the 52-year-old President Embalo came from the same generation who should work on changing Africa's trajectory from being seen as a ‘case of pity’ but transform into an active participant in the global economy.

President Boko said Africa was the world's richest continent in terms of natural resource endowment as well as the demographic dividend of having a vibrant, largely youthful population, factors which he said should be harnessed to build strong economies across the continent.

President Embalo concurred that the two countries had potential to unlock partnerships in various sectors and contribute towards a rapidly developing African continent.

He said Botswana and Guinea-Bissau have continued to speak with one language in multilateral fora such as the United Nations in promoting common interests and South-South cooperation.

It was revealed that President Embalo called Advocate Boko with a congratulatory message soon after the latter's election as Botswana's sixth president, and the two leaders also recently met at the inauguration of the President of Ghana, Mr John Mahama.

They agreed to a state visit to rekindle bilateral relations between the two states and explore areas of strengthened cooperation. ENDS