Botswana and Ethiopia have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening defence and bilateral cooperation following a high-level meeting held on the margins of the 130th anniversary commemoration of the historic Battle of Adwa in Addis Ababa.

The Minister for State President, Defence and Security of Botswana, Moeti Caesar Mohwasa, held bilateral talks with Ethiopia’s Minister of Defence, Aisha Mohammed, focusing on expanding collaboration across key strategic sectors.

During the meeting, Mohwasa congratulated the Government and people of Ethiopia on marking the 130th anniversary of the Victory of Adwa, describing it as a defining moment in African history.

He noted that Adwa remains a powerful symbol of African unity, resilience, and self-determination, with enduring relevance for the continent.

The Minister reaffirmed Botswana’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Ethiopia in areas including agriculture, aviation, capacity building, skills development, and technical exchange.

He emphasized Botswana’s appreciation of Ethiopia as a strategic partner in promoting peace, security, and continental stability through both bilateral and multilateral platforms.

In response, Defence Minister Aisha expressed gratitude for Botswana’s participation in the commemoration and underscored Ethiopia’s commitment to fostering closer diplomatic and defence ties.

She highlighted opportunities for enhanced collaboration through defence cooperation, joint military exercises, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

Ethiopia also extended an invitation to Botswana to undertake benchmarking visits to its defence manufacturing and capacity-building facilities.

The Ethiopian Defence Minister indicated that the country’s defence and military industries remain open for engagement, stressing Ethiopia’s readiness to both share its experience and learn from Botswana’s best practices.