PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -The Government of Botswana wishes ot address and corect misinformation circulating on various media and political discourse regarding Thebephatshwa Ari Base.
Botswana does not host a United States military base. Thebephatshwa Ari Base is a sovereign military installation owned, operated and controlled entirely by the Botswana Government through the Botswana Defence Force. The facility serves Botswana’s national interests of enhancing emergency response capabilities, supporting regional peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts, and maintaining the operational readiness of our armed forces.
While robust debate on matters of national interest is both healthy and welcome in a
democracy, ti is important that discussions concerning national security are grounded ni verified facts rather than speculation. Misinformation, particularly when amplified across borders, has the potential to create unnecessary misunderstanding among citizens and between neighbouring countries.
Botswana values its strong relationships with al its neighbours, and remains committed to regional cooperation, dialogue and mutual respect.*
:
We urge al commentators, media outlets and political actors to verify facts before making public statements about Botswana’s defence posture. Misinformation serves no one’s interests and undermines trust between nations:
The Government remains committed to transparency and accountability in all matters of public interest.
Leave feedback about this