The Botswana government has denied hosting an American Air base.
Writing on Facebook, the Botswana government said :
PRESS STATEMENT
STATEMENT ON THE THEBEPHATSHWA AIR BASE
The Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation wishes to register its concern with the various misleading narratives circulating on social media platforms regarding the Thebephatshwa Air Base, which is located west of Molepolole Village, in Botswana.
The distorted narratives proffer that the Thebephatshwa Air Base was established through funding from the United States Government. They further purport that the United States Government set up the Air Base in order to realise military strategic reach and projection of power in the African continent, particularly the Southern African Region.
The Ministry wishes to underscore that this misinformation stands to tarnish Botswana’s reputation, image and her relations with her fellow Member States in the Region as well as the rest of the African continent, and the international community at large.
Accordingly, the Ministry wishes to reiterate that the Air Base is a national initiative which was fully funded by the Government of Botswana and completed in 1997. Its funding was done through the standard processes of Government planning and budgeting for capital projects. As a project, it was planned for under the National Development Plan 7 (NDP7), with the aim of setting up an Air Base that would enhance the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Air Arm Command for future force development and deployment for various roles nationally, regionally, and internationally. Since its completion, the Air Base has also been utilised for training exercises, including with external military forces from the SADC Region and other countries.
Like many other countries, Botswana attaches great importance to international peace and security. In this regard, Botswana is committed to investing in efforts that would strengthen and promote international peace and security. Therefore, the establishment of Thebephatshwa Air Base has, among others, enabled the BDF to effectively perform broad mission requirements, such as airlift capability for deployment and engagement in peacekeeping efforts in the Region and elsewhere. Most recently, the Air Base enabled the BDF to provide minimum airlift capability for the deployment of BDF personnel participating in the SADC Mission in Mozambique.
Botswana remains fully committed to regional peace and security, as well as the regional integration agenda, and fostering strong bonds of friendship and cooperation with her neighbours in the Region and beyond.
