Botswana: Members of the Intelligence and Security organs of Africa have assembled in Gaborone, Botswana, for the 18th Ordinary Session of the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA). The conference, which commenced on 29th January 2023, is held under the theme “𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮”.
Botswana’s Directorate hosts the 18th CISSA Conference on Intelligence and Security (DIS). It will be officially opened by the President of the Republic of Botswana, Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, on 2nd February 2022 at the Gaborone International Convention Centre.
Addressing media members this afternoon, the Director General of the DIS, who is also the incoming Chairperson of the CISSA, Mr Peter Magosi, said the conference presents a platform where the intelligence officers can discuss continental and global security threats and come up with mitigating solutions to such. Mr Magosi stressed that the duty of an intelligence organ is to anticipate security threats and offer advice to the governments of the day.
For her part, the CISSA Executive Secretary Ambassador Zainab Ali Kotoko expressed appreciation to the DIS, the Government, the people and indeed the President of Botswana for offering to host this year’s conference, noting that the mobilisation and preparations are of a very high standard and it appears to have been taken as a national event.
Ambassador Kotoko noted that this is the first CISSA conference post Covid-19. She further stated that the conference had attracted multitudes of intelligence and security personnel, interested observers, and experienced speakers.
CISSA was established in 2004 to bring about cooperation between African Intelligence Services organs to mitigate against any security challenges proactively, be it political, military, socio-economic or financial.
Botswana’s DIS Director General, Brigadier (Rt) Peter Magosi, will, at this conference, assume the Chairmanship of the CISSA for 12 months. The Minister for State President, Kabo Morwaeng, will officially close the forum on 3rd February 2022.
