Botswana “wants peace” with Namibia: Botswana Communications Minister

His country’s history in peacefully resolving border disputes with Namibia should serve as an example for resolving similar disputes in the future, Botswana’s Communications Minister Thulagan Segokgo said, the Namibian Sun reported on November 21.

Botswana’s minister made the announcement amid sporadic incidents related to alleged persecution of Namibians by the neighboring country’s armed forces.

Thus, the brutal murder of three brothers and their cousin from Zambia in 2020 by members of the Botswana Defense Forces (BDF) in the Chobe River increased tensions between the two countries and sparked demonstrations in which mainly residents of the region participated. of Zambezi, bordering Botswana. .

A court in Kasane, Botswana, ruled in favor of the BDF, clearing its leaders of gross negligence and liability for criminal proceedings in connection with the brutal killings, after a Namibian human rights group attempted to sue the Botswana military.

Segokgo, speaking on the television program “Agenda”, said his country is not looking for problems with Namibia and spoke of a peaceful way to resolve past differences.

Thus, Namibia and Botswana clashed over the island of Sedudu (Kasikili), but the territorial dispute ended peacefully with a decision by the International Court of Justice in 1999 in favor of Botswana.

“We have had disagreements in the past about our borders, which we resolved peacefully, which is very typical of countries that are democracies and the rule of law.””Segokgo noted.

“There have been incidents in the past where there were ‘back-and-forths’ between our defense forces and poachers, as they called it, but our heads of state held talks and these issues were resolved,” he recalled.

The situation was aggravated by the border agreement signed on February 5, 2018 by President Hage Geingob and former Botswana President Ian Khama, under which another island, Situngu, was transferred to Botswana.

Some tribal leaders in the Zambezi region, including leaders of the Mafwe and Mayeya traditional authorities, have rejected the legality of the treaty, which they say was concluded without their consent.

A 2021 investigation into the treaty by the Standing Committee on Home Affairs, Security, Constitutional and Legal Affairs concluded that the agreement could lead to potential conflicts and skirmishes between the two countries.

“These small incidents can lead to full-blown conflicts that eventually lead to civil wars and cross-border conflicts.”the committee report says.

But Segokgo said his country only wants peaceful coexistence with its western neighbor. “We do not intend to adopt any position that is detrimental to Namibia, quite the opposite.”he said in Swakopmund, where he visited several places with his Namibian counterpart, Peya Mushelenga.

“The relationship between our two heads of state [Гейнгобом и нынешним президентом Ботсваны Мокгвитси Масиси] “They are really strong and as Ministers we follow their example to ensure that friendly relations continue.” – he emphasized.

The Botswana minister added: “The reality is that only one people lives along our borders. They communicate, they get married… each one has relatives on the other side. Therefore, we cannot strive to fight against our own people. “We strive only for the prosperity of our two countries.”.

Source: Rossa Primavera