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List of international presidential trips made by Duma Boko

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This is a list of international presidential trips made by Duma Boko, the sixth and current President of Botswana, who has served since 1 November 2024.

Background

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Duma Boko's international travel has received coverage from independent media since the beginning of his presidency. In February 2025, Mmegi reported on Boko's foreign travel during his first 100 days in office, discussing his diplomatic engagements in Zimbabwe, Belgium, Ghana and Tanzania, as well as the political and economic purposes of his international travel. However, because there are no reliable citations for these trips other than his Belgian trip, the first 100 days trips will not be included on the list.[1]

Boko's foreign travel has also attracted political scrutiny. In February 2025, Botswana's Minister for International Affairs defended the president's international trips following criticism that the frequency of his travel could place a burden on the country's finances.[2] Later that year, CAJ News reported that Boko faced criticism over his use of private foreign visits, with opposition figures calling for greater transparency concerning the trips and their purposes.[3]

List

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2024

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Country Areas visited Date(s) Notes
Belgium Antwerp 25–28 November Attended the FACETS 2024 diamond conference at the Antwerp World Diamond Centre and promoted Botswana's diamond industry.[4]

2025

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Country Areas visited Date(s) Notes
Ethiopia Addis Ababa 13–18 February Attended the African Union 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, as well as related high-level meetings on governance, economic development, trade and investment.[5]
United States Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. 3–7 March Working visit to the United States, including meetings in Washington, D.C. with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and representatives of the Corporate Council on Africa. Boko had originally been scheduled to attend the launch of Botswana's first satellite in Los Angeles.[6]
Mozambique Nacala 26–29 March Working visit focused on economic cooperation, regional trade and strengthening bilateral relations with Mozambique.[7]
South Africa Pretoria 27–29 April Working visit at the invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa, during which Boko engaged with his South African counterpart.[8]
Zambia Lusaka 1–2 August State visit during which Boko co-chaired the inaugural session of the Zambia–Botswana Bi-National Commission and served as Guest of Honour at the official opening of the 97th Zambia Agriculture and Commercial Show. Several memoranda of understanding were signed in areas including agriculture, energy, transport, tourism and disaster risk management.[9]
South Africa Johannesburg 3–5 September Private visit to South Africa.[10]
United Arab Emirates Dubai 5–9 September Working visit focused on high-level business meetings with potential investors and promoting Botswana as a destination for trade, investment and tourism.[11]
South Africa Cape Town 28 December 2025 – 7 January 2026 Private external visit. During the visit, Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe served as Acting President of Botswana.[12]

2026

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Country Areas visited Date(s) Notes
United Arab Emirates Dubai 2–6 February Attended the World Governments Summit 2026 and held bilateral engagements with leaders and officials, including representatives of Serbia, Antigua and Barbuda, and the UAE, to strengthen diplomatic and economic cooperation.[13]
Ethiopia Addis Ababa 12–16 February Attended the African Union 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, held under the theme "Water Security and Climate Resilience".[14]
France Lyon, Paris 6–9 April Working visit to attend the One Health Summit in Lyon and hold bilateral talks with President Emmanuel Macron and French business leaders. The visit was Boko's first official visit to France.[15]
Spain Madrid 9 April Working visit following his visit to France, focused on economic diplomacy and bilateral cooperation. Boko held talks with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.[16]
Zimbabwe Harare 21–23 April State visit during which Boko held bilateral talks with Zimbabwean officials.[17]
South Africa Durban 16–17 August Attended the Southern African Development Community (SADC) 46th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government in Durban. The summit addressed regional integration, industrialisation, infrastructure development, agriculture, critical minerals, peace and security, and economic integration. Boko also held bilateral engagements on the sidelines of the summit.[18]
Angola Luanda, Benguela 7–9 September State visit during which Boko met with President João Lourenço, participated in the Angola–Botswana Economic Business Forum, and visited the Lobito Refinery.[19]
United States New York City 19–26 September Attended the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.[20] On 23 September, Boko and First Lady Kaone Boko attended an event co-hosted by De Beers and National Geographic during Climate Week NYC, marking the renewal of the Okavango Eternal partnership. On 24 September, he spoke at the Presidential Diamond Jubilee reception at Rockefeller Center, where he was interviewed by Time CEO Jessica Sibley and said demand for diamonds was recovering.[21]
China Beijing, Fuzhou 12–17 October State visit at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, and Boko's first visit to China since taking office. On 13 October, Boko held talks with Xi at the Great Hall of the People, and the two leaders announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. The visit also included a trip to Fujian province.[22][23]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Lewanika, Timothy (7 February 2025). "Boko's first pals and travels". Mmegi. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
  2. ↑ "President international trips critical - Butale" (PDF). DailyNews. 17 February 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
  3. ↑ "Botswana opposition decry president's 'external private visits'". CAJ News. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
  4. ↑ "President Boko travels to Belgium Nov. 25th to lobby for Botswana diamonds". 23 November 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "President Boko to leave for Addis Ababa for AU Summit" (PDF). 13 February 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Boko wraps USA visit". DailyNews. 9 March 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
  7. ↑ "Boko in Mozambique". DailyNews. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
  8. ↑ "President undertakes working visit to South Africa". 27 April 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "President Duma Boko Concludes Successful State Visit To Zambia". 2 August 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Boko visits South Africa United Arab Emirates". 4 September 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Boko visits South Africa United Arab Emirates". 4 September 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  12. ↑ Mpuang, Letlhogile (30 December 2025). "Botswana president Duma Boko to celebrate birthday in Cape Town". The Namibian. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
  13. ↑ "Botswana Strengthens Diplomatic ties, with Serbia, UAE, Antigua & Barbuda". 3 February 2026. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "President of Botswana Duma Gideon Boko Arrives in Addis Ababa for AU Summit". 12 February 2026. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "President Undertakes Working Visits To France and Spain". 6 April 2026. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "President Undertakes Working Visits To France and Spain". 6 April 2026. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "President Boko jets in for state visit". The Herald. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
  18. ↑ "Boko Attends SADC Summit". 17 August 2026. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "President Boko jets in for state visit". The Herald. 7 September 2026. Retrieved 14 September 2026.
  20. ↑ "Boko heads to New York for UNGA81". Facebook. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  21. ↑ Graff, Michelle (30 September 2026). "Botswana's President, De Beers CEO Say Diamond Demand Is Recovering". National Jeweler. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  22. ↑ "President Xi Jinping Holds Talks with President Duma Gideon Boko of Botswana". Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America. 13 October 2026. Retrieved 19 October 2026.
  23. ↑ "Botswana President Duma Boko to make a state visit to China from 12 to 17 October 2026". Africa News Agency. Retrieved 19 October 2026.
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