Minister of International Relations, Dr Phenyo Butale
GABORONE, Wednesday — Botswana’s Ministry of International Relations has dismissed reports that a crude oil tanker disabled by the United States military in the Arabian Gulf was sailing under the Botswana flag.
In a statement issued on June 4, the ministry stressed that Botswana has neither registered nor operates any vessels under its flag. It warned that any ships purporting to sail under Botswana’s banner are engaged in unlawful activity and “are not entitled to recognition by other states or entities.”
Officials condemned the fraudulent use of Botswana’s national symbols in international maritime fraud, describing the practice of “flags of convenience” as deceitful. The ministry said it has reported incidents of false registration to the International Maritime Organisation, underscoring that Botswana maintains no register for sea‑going cargo vessels.
The statement clarified that under international maritime law, a vessel’s nationality depends on valid registration, not the flag it displays. Ships falsely claiming Botswana nationality are therefore considered stateless under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The ministry added that the incident does not affect Botswana’s “excellent relations” with the United States.
