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| Fomer President of Botswana Festus Mogae, former President of Malawi Joyce Banda and Uhuru Kenyatta |
Former Botswana President Festus Mogae has died at the age of 86, with the government announcing three days of national mourning in his honour.
Mogae served as Botswana’s third president from 1998 to 2008 and was widely recognised for promoting good governance, economic growth, and efforts to combat HIV/AIDS.
President Duma Boko paid tribute to the late statesman, describing him as a dedicated leader whose service to the country remained consistent throughout his life.
“As a nation, we grieve the loss of a remarkable leader and servant of the people whose commitment to Botswana remained unwavering throughout his life,” Boko said.
Born in Serowe on August 21, 1939, Mogae studied in Britain before joining Botswana’s civil service shortly after the country gained independence in 1966. He later rose through government ranks, serving as finance minister and vice president before taking over the presidency after Ketumile Masire stepped down.
During his presidency, Botswana recorded strong economic growth and maintained its reputation for political stability, including a peaceful transfer of power after Mogae completed the constitutionally allowed two terms in office. He was succeeded by former Vice President Ian Khama in 2008.
Mogae also gained international recognition for confronting the HIV/AIDS crisis at a time when Botswana had one of the highest infection rates in the world. His administration introduced one of Africa’s most extensive programmes aimed at controlling the spread of the virus and improving treatment access.
In 2008, he received the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership in recognition of his governance record and efforts to sustain stability and prosperity in Botswana.
After leaving office, Mogae remained active in regional diplomacy and peacebuilding efforts, including serving as chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission overseeing South Sudan’s peace process.
