Excellency, Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana and our host.

Excellency, Ndaba Gaolathe, Vice President of the Republic of Botswana.

Excellency, Ana Paula Chantre Luna De Carvalho Pereira, Minister of Environment, of the Republic of Angola, Representing H.E Joao Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union.

Excellency, Wynter Mmolotsi, Minister of Environment and Tourism of the Republic of Botswana.  

Excellency, Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue economy & Sustainable environment (ARBE)  at the African Union Commission.

Excellencies Heads of State and Government and their representatives,

Members of the Parliament, Executives of the Regional Economic Communities ( REC’s )

Excellencies Members of the Diplomatic Corp

Esteemed Partners

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

All protocols duly observed

It is with profound gratitude and great honour that I address this distinguished gathering, on behalf of the African Union Commission, at the First Africa Biodiversity Summit taking place in this beautiful city of Gaborone.

Allow me, first and foremost, to extend our heartfelt appreciation to President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, the Government and the people of the Republic of Botswana for the generous hospitality and exemplary leadership in hosting this landmark summit.

Your commitment, Excellency Mr President, to environmental stewardship and sustainable development is a beacon for our continent.

Excellencies, please, allow me also to express our appreciation to our Member States and partners who supported this summit both financially and technically.

This historic gathering marks a pivotal moment in our continental journey toward safeguarding Africa’s rich, unique and irreplaceable biodiversity.

Under the theme “Leveraging Biodiversity for Africa’s Prosperity,” we convene not only to celebrate our natural and cultural heritage, but to chart a bold and unified course for the protection, the preservation  and sustainable use of biodiversity in our beautiful continent.

As underscored and recalled during the last few days of discussions here in Gaborone, Africa is home to some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth, from the Congo Basin to the Sahara and the mediterranean, Indian or Atlantic oceans shores, and from the Great Lakes to the Cape Floristic Region, these landscapes are more than scenic wonders; they are the lifeblood of our economies, the foundation of our cultures, and the guardians of our future.

Yet, they are under siege; from climate change, pollution, land degradation, and unsustainable exploitation.

These multiple planetary crises demand a triple commitment:

to act, to invest, and to transform.

This Summit is a response to that imperative.

It is a call to elevate biodiversity governance to the highest political level.

The African Union Commission stands ready to work with Member States, regional bodies, civil society, and the private sector to implement the African Biodiversity Strategy and align our efforts with Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDGs).

As a continent, we must ensure that biodiversity is not treated as a peripheral issue, but as a central pillar of development, peace, and resilience.

In this regard, I would like to sincerely appreciate the work done during the last two days by our technicians, our experts and our ministers.

Their deliberations have indeed helped articulate clear positions for our leaders to adopt and promote as our common African stands and positions on this strategic matter.

I respectfully urge our Heads of State and Government to champion biodiversity as a strategic asset.

Let us integrate it into national planning, budgetary frameworks, and climate adaptation strategies.

Let us empower our youth and indigenous communities, whose knowledge and stewardship are vital.

And let us speak with one voice on the global stage, demanding equity, financing, and technology transfer to support our ambitions.

Africa’s prosperity must be green, inclusive, and rooted in nature. The decisions we make here in Gaborone will transcend across generations and leave a legacy of environmental stewardship.

The Declaration to be adopted today constitutes indeed a millstone in this regard.

Let us rise on to the occasion, unite and be united in purpose and unwavering in resolve.

Thank you for your kind attention.