Vatican City - The Vatican announced Tuesday it is to establish diplomatic relations with the southern African nation of Botswana.

Botswana is to nominate an ambassador to the Holy See, which will create an Apostolic Nunciature for Gaberone, Botswana's capital, a Vatican statement said.

The move stems from a proposal made by the former Botswana president Festus Mogae to the then Vatican secretary of sate, Angelo Sodano, in 2005.

Botswana had a population of some 1.58 million people of which 5 per cent was Roman Catholic, the Vatican said. (dpa)