Gaborone, Botswana — August 21, 2025

Botswana has signed a landmark $12 billion investment agreement with Qatar-based Al Mansour Holdings, marking one of the largest foreign direct investment commitments in the country’s history.

President Duma Gideon Boko presided over the signing ceremony in Gaborone, where senior officials from the Botswana Government, Al Mansour Holdings, and the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) formalized the multi-sector partnership. The deal follows months of high-level negotiations and reciprocal visits between Botswana and Qatar.

“This partnership is not just about numbers on paper. It’s about turning words into real projects, real investments, and real change for our people,” President Boko said during the event.

The investment package will target strategic sectors including energy, infrastructure, mining, diamonds, agriculture, defense, and cybersecurity. Officials say the initiative is expected to generate thousands of jobs, expand market access for local producers, and improve public services such as roads and electricity.

Beyond Botswana, the agreement includes provisions for regional collaboration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with potential extensions into Zambia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.

The President concluded the ceremony with a brief but symbolic remark: “Allahu Akbar,” expressing gratitude for the milestone achievement.

Who is Al Mansour Holdings?

Al Mansour Holdings is emerging as a major Gulf-based investment player with a growing footprint across Africa, particularly in large-scale infrastructure and development partnerships.

 Overview of Al Mansour Holdings

•         Headquarters: Based in Qatar, with leadership ties to Sheikh Mansour Bin Jabor Bin Jassim Al Thani – a member of Qatar’s ruling Al Thani family and a prominent figure in both diplomatic and business circles, who also leads the Mansoor Jassim Al Thani Group, which facilitates foreign investment into Qatar and supports international partnerships.

•         Investment Focus: The company specializes in multi-sector investments, including: Finance and banking; Housing and urban development; Agriculture and food security; Mining and energy; and Transport and telecommunications.

Recent Activity in Africa

• Zambia Partnership: Just days before the Botswana deal, Al Mansour Holdings signed a $19 billion agreement with Zambia—one of the largest bilateral investment deals in that country’s history.

The deal includes plans for 1.5 million housing units, smart city solutions, and a national investment and development bank. It also covers agro-processing, irrigation, and export-oriented value chains.

•  Regional Strategy: The company appears to be positioning itself as a long-term strategic investor in Southern Africa, leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to expand its influence across borders.

• Institutional Partnerships: In both Botswana and Zambia, Al Mansour Holdings has signed agreements not only with governments but also with state-owned corporations like the Botswana Development Corporation and Zambia’s Industrial Development Corporation. This signals a model of deep public-private collaboration, with emphasis on long-term infrastructure, economic reform, and regional integration.