Ivory Coast and Botswana: Towards a Strategic Partnership to Modernize the Mining Sector

The Ivorian Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly, conducted a working mission in Gaborone, Botswana, aimed at laying the foundations for a strategic partnership to modernize the governance of Ivory Coast’s extractive sector.

During his visit from February 16 to 18, the minister met with Botswana’s Vice President, Ndaba Gaolathe, and mining officials to learn from the Botswana model, which is globally recognized for turning mining revenues into sustainable economic development and improving local living conditions.

The visit included an inspection of the Jwaneng mine, one of the richest in the world, to closely observe resource management practices and transparency mechanisms in the mining sector.

Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the mining and energy sectors, with the goal of developing a structured and sustainable partnership between Ivory Coast and Botswana. According to Minister Sangafowa Coulibaly, this partnership should help accelerate mining expansion in Ivory Coast while enhancing governance and transparency in the extractive sector.

This mission represents a key step for Ivory Coast as it seeks to draw lessons from Botswana’s experience to optimize resource management and promote sustainable economic development.