Kenya, Botswana’s disagreement on ivory trade won’t impact other bilateral agreements

Botswana's President, Mokgweetsi Masisi had a four-hour meeting with his Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta followed by a joint press conference in the capital city of Nairobi. The two heads of states discussed on offering Botswana's support in favor of Kenya's seat in the United Nations Secretary Council when a position becomes vacant in later 2019.

Even the Kenyan and Botswanan presidents observed the signing of agreements on bilateral trade between Botswana and Kenya on air transport and non-double taxation at a State House meeting in Nairobi. Both the African countries also sought to enhance cooperation in multiple sectors such as ICT, livestock breeding, tourism, mineral exploration, manufacturing and agricultural business.

But when it comes to the ivory trade, both the countries (Botswana and Kenya) have contemplated shunning public spat on the issue. In fact, Mokgweetsi Masisi has termed it as 'sticky' and 'sensitive'. "There was a pretty sticky issue where we agreed to disagree congenially," Botswana's President said after his return from Nairobi instead of directly commenting on it, as reported by Sunday Standard.

One journalist asked the question linking previous war of words between Kenya and Botswana following reports that a vote on sale of ivory was one of the topical issues to be discussed at the upcoming Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting in Geneva, Switzerland between August 17 and 28. But the leader preferred to refer to the issue as 'sticky' and 'sensitive'.

"We called on the ministers and officials concerned and laid out what we had agreed to...which is continuation of the exploration of the particular issue and our commitment to consult neighbouring countries in our region," he said during his address. Then he confessed that both countries have agreed to disagree on the 'sticky issue'.

"I must very careful of what I say about the sticky issue. You too must also be very careful of what you write.......we talked candidly about it. They have very strong valid reasons on their position. But we both agreed that the position that they want to go was never gonna work...never," he said.

On the other hand, Botswana's Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Kitso Mokaila said to the Sunday Standard that he expected both countries to stick to their respective positions on the issue of ivory trading and this would not hamper the other bilateral agreements.

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