War of attrition between Botswana and USA :: Mmegi Online

Botswana and the United States of America (USA) exchanged angry outbursts yesterday following the recent arrest of a newspaper editor. This was after the USA condemned the Government of Botswana over the arrest of the Sunday Standard editor, Outsa Mokone, on Monday.

In a press statement published yesterday on the US Department of State website, the US stated that it is deeply concerned by the arrest of Mokone by the Government of Botswana on charges of sedition relating to an article published by his newspaper, Sunday Standard.

“The United States strongly values freedom of the press, which is a key component of democratic governance. Freedom of expression and media freedom, both of which foster the exchange of ideas and facilitate transparency and accountability, are essential components for democracy. Outsa Mokone’s arrest is inconsistent with these fundamental freedoms and at odds with Botswana’s strong tradition of democratic governance,” said deputy department spokesperson, Marie Harf.

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