The first Ambassador of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)/Western Sahara to Botswana and Permanent Representative to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), His Excellency Mr Malainin Mohamed on 6 August, 2019, presented his letters of credence to the SADC Executive Secretary Her Excellency Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax.
In her welcome remarks, H.E. Dr Tax congratulated H.E. Mohamed for being appointed the first ambassador of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic to Botswana and SADC and re-affirmed SADC’s commitment to stand in solidarity with the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic to ensure its right to freedom and self-determination.
The SADC Executive Secretary indicated that she was delighted to learn that the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic participated at the 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) held on 28-30 August, 2019, following the call by the 39th SADC Summit urging African Union Member States and other partners to ensure that the SADR is not excluded from participating in continental and international events.
H.E. Ambassador Mohamed thanked the SADC Heads of State and Government for being outspoken about the plight of the people of Saharawi Republic and for consistently standing in solidarity with Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic and in particular with the convening of the SADC Solidarity Conference with Western Sahara held in March 2019.
H.E. Ambassador Mohamed indicated that the opening of an embassy in Gaborone, Botswana will help to facilitate engagement between the government of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic and SADC in the implementation of various resolutions.
The two parties agreed to develop a Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of the decisions and resolutions of the SADC Solidarity Conference and the 39th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government.
The SADC Executive Secretary was accompanied by the Director of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs at the SADC Secretariat, Mr Jorge Cardoso.
The Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic remains the only territory in Africa under colonial rule.
