Windhoek: Namibia will next week host the Second Session of the Botswana-Namibia Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Windhoek. The event, scheduled from 06 to 08 October, serves as a high-level bilateral cooperation forum, established in January 2021, which replaced the former Joint Commission on Cooperation and the Joint Permanent Commission on Security and Defence.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Presidential Press Secretary Jonas Mbambo stated on Saturday that the session will kick off with the Senior Officials Meeting from 06 to 08 October. This meeting will be co-chaired by Namibia's Executive Director in the Ministry of International Relations and Trade, Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati, and Botswana's Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of International Relations, Thuso Ramodimoosi. The Ministerial Session, scheduled for 09 October, will be co-chaired by Namibia's Minister of International Relations and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, along with Botswana's Minister of International Relations, Phenyo Butale.
The Heads of State Summit, set for 10 October, will be co-chaired by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and President Duma Gideon Boko of Botswana. The Second Session of the BNC aims to review progress in cooperation across multiple sectors, including diplomatic, legal, economic, social, and defence and security matters. It will also offer a platform to explore new avenues for collaboration and to discuss regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.
Mbambo noted that several bilateral agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed during the session. In May this year, President Nandi-Ndaitwah made a working visit to Botswana, where the two Heads of State stressed the importance of prioritizing key areas of cooperation. They also agreed on the necessity of completing a legal audit of all existing bilateral agreements to expedite the implementation of joint projects.
The two Heads of State reaffirmed the longstanding bonds of friendship and shared historical ties between the two nations, which continue to drive deeper economic and diplomatic collaboration. The inaugural BNC session took place in Gaborone, Botswana, in 2022.