Her Excellency Ms Valérie Baraban, Ambassador of France to the Republic of Botswana and Special Representative to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), paid a courtesy call to the Minister of Sport and Arts, Honourable Jacob Kelebeng. Ambassador Baraban presented her credentials to President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko on September 15, 2025. Minister Kelebeng welcomed her deployment and expressed gratitude to the French government for the appointment.
During the meeting, Minister Kelebeng highlighted the Ministry of Sport and Arts’ strategic role in driving economic growth and supporting diversification. He outlined the Ministry’s blueprint, guided by the National Development Plan 12 chapter on Sport and Arts, which positions the sector as an economic engine. The Ministry plans to expand infrastructure, including a national theatre, community sports and arts centres, mini-stadia, and cultural hubs across the country.
Minister Kelebeng also emphasised Botswana’s ambition to become a regional sporting hub. The country will host the World Athletics Relays from May 2 to 3, 2026, in Gaborone, reinforcing Botswana’s growing prominence in athletics. This follows the strong performance of ‘Team Botswana’ at the recent World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The Minister invited Ambassador Baraban to explore French technical expertise and support in establishing Botswana’s Film Commission and in collaboration on sports programmes, arts initiatives, and tertiary sponsorships. These efforts aim to strengthen youth development, sports policy implementation, and arts promotion.
Ambassador Baraban congratulated Botswana on its recent sporting achievements, including Letsile Tebogo’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics and Team Botswana’s results in Tokyo. She expressed interest in supporting initiatives that leverage these successes, including youth engagement in sports and arts, development of sports policies, and promotion of Botswana cuisine to increase cultural value and visibility internationally.
The meeting reinforced the partnership between Botswana and France in sports, arts, and cultural development, opening avenues for technical collaboration and international support in positioning Botswana as a leading hub for sports and creative industries in the region.
