President Droupadi Murmu today wrapped up a landmark two-nation State Visit to Angola and Botswana, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian Head of State to the two African nations. The visit, which underscored India’s growing engagement with Africa and the Global South, concluded with a symbolic and historic conservation gesture—the formal handover of eight cheetahs from Botswana to India. At the Mokolodi Nature Reserve near Gaborone, President Murmu and Botswana’s President Duma Gideon Boko jointly presided over the handover ceremony. The cheetahs, comprising both adults and sub-adults sourced from Ghanzi in the Kalahari Desert, were placed in a quarantine enclosure ahead of their transfer to India.
Speaking at the event, President Murmu said, “These cheetahs will join their brothers and sisters in India’s Kuno National Park, helping us restore the species in its historical habitat. This initiative symbolises our shared commitment to biodiversity and conservation.” President Boko echoed the sentiment, emphasising Botswana’s dedication to global wildlife preservation. “We are proud to support India’s efforts to rebuild its cheetah population. This collaboration reflects our enduring friendship and shared ecological responsibilities,” he said. The eight cheetahs will remain in quarantine in Botswana before being airlifted to India in the coming weeks. Upon arrival, they will become part of the Cheetah Initiative at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
India’s cheetah reintroduction programme began in 2022 with the arrival of eight cheetahs from Namibia, followed by twelve from South Africa in 2023. Since then, India has recorded 27 cheetahs, including 16 born on Indian soil, marking steady progress in re-establishing the species in its native range.
During her three-day visit to Botswana, President Murmu also witnessed the symbolic cheetah handover and addressed members of the Indian community in Gaborone. She was received warmly at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport by President Boko, who later bid her farewell with a traditional folk performance and a guard of honour by the Botswana Defence Forces. In separate meetings, Vice President Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe and Minister of International Relations Dr Phenyo Butale called on President Murmu, commending India’s developmental strides and expressing optimism about deepening bilateral cooperation.
A major outcome of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the health and pharmaceuticals sector. The agreement will enhance Botswana’s access to affordable, high-quality medicines, with India also committing to supply antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to support the country’s public health efforts. President Murmu’s engagements in Botswana followed her earlier visit to Angola, where she held wide-ranging talks with President João Lourenço. Angola agreed to join two India-led initiatives—the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) and the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA)—further strengthening the partnership in environmental and energy cooperation. The two countries also finalised discussions on an Air Service Agreement to enable future direct flights and signed MoUs on sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, marine resources, and consular matters.
President Murmu’s November 8–13 trip not only reinforced India’s presence in Africa but also set a new benchmark in South–South cooperation. Her visit concluded this evening as she departed from Gaborone for New Delhi, marking the end of a highly successful and meaningful diplomatic engagement.
