President Duma Boko with His Excellency, Ambassador Abdelmalek TIGHARGHAR
Cynthia Thanda
The much-anticipated Glorious Algerian war of liberation celebration will take place on 13th November 2025, at the Official Residence of the Ambassador.
The event will showcase Algerian culture to Botswana, strengthening the growing bilateral relations between Botswana and Algeria.
The event which will be attended by senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and invited guests from various sectors, aims to highlight the enduring friendship, ambition and shared goals between the two nations.
The reception will also mark the existence of the Algerian Embassy in Botswana which officially opened on August 2022, and is currently under the leadership of His Excellency Mr. Abdelmalek TIGHARGHAR.
The Algerian Government has shown its involvement and willingness to collaborate with Botswana through scholarships programmes, conferences and others.
The ceremony will feature official remarks from both governments, offer a history of Algeria and a networking session intended to encourage dialogue between stakeholders.
One of the invitees, Mr. Richmond Mouti, Co-founder of Bantu Vision, an animation, gaming, and digital media company based in Botswana, mentioned how he has had the privilege of engaging with Algeria through several Startup and Innovation Conferences over the past two years.
“These events were more than gatherings of entrepreneurs — they were platforms that showcased Algeria’s dedication to fostering continental innovation, collaboration, and youth-driven development.
Through these engagements, I gained invaluable insights into the Algerian startup ecosystem and witnessed first-hand the country’s commitment to empowering Africa’s creative and technological industries,” said Mr. Mouti.
He went on to explain that the opportunities Algeria continues to create for African entrepreneurs have been instrumental in strengthening cooperation between nations.
For Bantu Vision, the experience inspired new perspectives on scaling creative technology across borders and building partnerships that support sustainable growth.
“Algeria’s openness to collaboration reflects the spirit of Pan-African unity — one that recognises that Africa’s progress lies in shared knowledge, mutual support, and cross-border innovation.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the People and Government of Algeria for their generosity and vision in advancing Africa’s collective future through innovation and entrepreneurship,” he concluded.
The reception will begin at 18:00 and attendance is by invitation only.
A TOUCH OF HISTORY
For many Africans, the story of liberation is written in voices and sacrifices of nations that were bold and refused to bow to colonial rule. Among these, Algeria stands out, not only for its unwavering commitment to its self determination but for the role it has played and continues to play in supporting countries struggling to break free from the clutches of colonial masters.
One of the important pioneers of freedom, Nelson Mandela famously declared, “The Algerian army made me a man,” and Guinea’s Amilcar Cabral called Algiers the “Mecca of Revolution.” All these highlight how Algeria has emerged from one of the bloodiest anti-colonial wars of the 20th century into a platform for continental solidarity.
Under Ben Bella’s leadership, Algeria hosted the first Conference of African Unity in 1963, which aimed to promote solidarity among African nations.
Indeed, the date of 1st of November 1954 marks the beginning of the Glorious Algerian war of liberation, which lasted for almost eight years and led to the independence of the country on the 5th of July 1962, thus ending 132 years of French colonial rule.
In the years following its independence, Algeria’s contribution to a free Africa can be traced to the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) which benefited from Algerian military training programmes and logistical assistance, which were instrumental in their fight against Portuguese colonial rule.
Algeria’s involvement was not limited to military support; it also offered a platform for FRELIMO leaders to engage with international audiences, raising awareness of their struggle.
In Namibia, Algeria’s solidarity was demonstrated through its support for the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO). The Algerian government recognized SWAPO as the legitimate representative of the Namibian people and provided essential resources for their liberation efforts. This backing reinforced Algeria’s commitment to the principle of self-determination for all African nations, further solidifying its status as a champion of Pan-Africanism.
One of the most prominent figures in this regard was Ahmed Ben Bella, Algeria’s first president. Ben Bella was a staunch advocate for Pan-Africanism and believed that the African continent needed to unite to confront the challenges posed by colonialism and neo-colonialism.
To this day, Algeria’s commitment to a free Africa is displayed by its firm stance on the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara) issue, advocating for a right to self-determination, respect for borders inherited from colonial rule, support for the right of peoples to resist occupation, and respect for international law and multilateralism.
(C) TPA2025
