Gaborone (Botswana) 12 November 2019 (SPS)- The Saharawi Minister for External Relations, Mr. Mohamed Salem Uld Salek, congratulated his Batswana counterpart, Mrs. Unity Dow, for her appointment last week by President Mokgweetsi Masisi, as head of the country’s diplomacy.
In a letter he addressed to Mrs. Unity Dow, the Saharawi Minister stressed the historic relations between the two countries, expressing joy about her “well-deserved election to Botswana Parliament on the 4th of November then nomination to the duty of Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation in the new Cabinet of His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana.”
Uld Salek considered that by appointing her to that post “His Excellency President Mokgweetsi Masisi is indicating that he trusts your ability to lead once again such an important ministry, and shows mostly that he believes in your ability to defend the vision, values and positions of Botswana at the level of SADC, AU, UN and beyond,” the letters reads.
On another hand, the Saharawi Minister recalled that the two countries “maintain relations of friendship and mutual respect since the eighties. Our two leaders, H.E President Mokgweetsi Masisi and H.E. President Brahim Ghali decided in 2018 to upgrade the level of representation to Ambassadorial level. Consequently, the Saharawi Republic opened its new Embassy in Gaborone last June and the first Saharawi Ambassador to Botswana, Mr. Malainin Mohamed, presented his Credentials to your Ministry then to H.E. President Masisi in the mid-August 2019.”
The letter further emphasised the determination of the Saharawi Government “to continue developing our bilateral relations targeting the future. And at the same time, we are also determined to continue cooperating and collaborating with your Honour and with Botswana in all Forums.”
Mrs. Unity Dow, it should be recalled was re-appointed to the post of Minister of External Relations and Cooperation in the newly composed Cabinet of President Masisi, after she was also elected to Parliament as Specially Elected Member along with five others.
Botswana has concluded last October 23rd its General elections, which were described as regular and democratic by all African and international observers that assisted the whole process since the first weeks of the electoral campaigns.
The Saharawi Embassy in Botswana, along with Embassies of other African nations accredited to Botswana, participated in the election observation operation as part of the African Diplomatic Watch. (SPS)
090/500/60 (SPS)