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Festus Mogae

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"Mogae" redirects here. For his wife, a Motswana politician, see Barbara Mogae.

His Excellency
Festus Mogae
Mogae in 2009
3rd President of Botswana
In office
1 April 1998 – 1 April 2008
Vice PresidentIan Khama
Preceded byQuett Masire
Succeeded byIan Khama
4th Vice-President of Botswana
In office
1991–1998
PresidentSir Ketumile Masire
Preceded byPeter Mmusi
Succeeded bySeretse Ian Khama
Personal details
Born(1939-08-21)21 August 1939
Serowe, Bechuanaland Protectorate
Died8 May 2026(2026-05-08) (aged 86)
Gaborone, Botswana
PartyBotswana Democratic Party
Spouse
​
(m. 1967)​
Children3
University College, Oxford
University of Sussex
ProfessionEconomist

Festus Gontebanye Mogae (21 August 1939 – 8 May 2026) was a Motswana politician and economist who served as the third President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008.[1] He was re-elected in October 2004. After ten years in office, he stepped down in 2008 and was succeeded by Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama.[2]

Mogae served as Governor of the Bank of Botswana and Minister of Finance from 1989 to 1998. He later served as the 4th Vice-President of Botswana from 1991 until 1998 during the Quett Masire administration.

In 2008, Mogae was awarded the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. After leaving office, he served on several boards of non-profit organizations and served as an advocate for HIV/AIDS treatment.[3]

Career

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After completing his education in the United Kingdom, Mogae returned to Botswana in 1968 to work as a civil servant. He held posts with the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of Botswana.[4] He served as the governor of Bank of Botswana from 1980 to 1981,[5] and as the Minister of Finance from 1989 to 1998.[6] He was Vice-President of Botswana from 1991 to 1998 during the administration of Sir Ketumile Masire.[2]

Presidency

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Mogae's party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), retained power in the October 1999 general election, and Mogae was sworn in for a five-year term on 20 October 1999[7][8] by Chief Justice Julian Nganunu at the National Stadium in Gaborone.[8] On this occasion, he vowed to focus on the fight against poverty and unemployment.[7]

During his presidency, Mogae was credited with his management of Botswana's economy.[9] The economy oversaw rapid growth due to diamond revenues.[3] He also oversaw Botswana's open response to HIV/AIDS while the country faced one of the world's highest infection rates.[9] Mogae's administration led a campaign for free antiretroviral therapy, which was attributed to lowering the HIV/AIDS infection rate in the country.[10] In tackling the HIV/AIDS infections, he also oversaw a partnership with the United States’ PEPFAR plan, which helped Botswana become the first African nation to provide its citizens with free antiretroviral treatment.[4]

Following the BDP's victory in the October 2004 general election, Mogae was sworn in for another term on 2 November 2004. Mogae promised to tackle poverty and unemployment, as well as the spread of HIV/AIDS, which he pledged to stop in Botswana by 2016.[11]

On 14 July 2007, Mogae affirmed his intention to resign nine months later.[12] He stepped down as President on 1 April 2008 and was succeeded by Vice-President Lieutenant General Ian Khama.[2] He would have been required to leave office in 2008 in any event; a constitutional amendment passed in 1997 limited the president to a total of 10 years in office, whether successive or separated.[2] The transition period between Mogae and Khama was noted for its stability and peaceful transition of power.[9]

Post-presidency

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Shortly after leaving the presidency, Mogae won the 2008 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, and received US$5 million over 10 years and US$200,000 annually for life thereafter.[13]

Mogae served as Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General on Climate Change.[14] In 2010, he joined the advisory board of US nonprofit TeachAids.[15] He also served as chairman of the Choppies supermarket group where he earned Pula 529,000 in 2011.[16]

In 2013, along with former President Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania, Mogae co-chaired a sustainable development symposium, hosted by the UONGOZI Institute in collaboration with Club de Madrid.[17][18]

Personal life and death

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Mogae was born in Serowe on 21 August 1939.[9] He studied economics in the United Kingdom, first at University College, Oxford, and then at the University of Sussex.[19][1][2]

Mogae married Barbara Mogae in 1967.[20] They have three daughters, born between 1969 and 1987: Nametso, Chedza and Boikaego.[20][21]

Mogae died at his home in Gaborone, Botswana, on 8 May 2026, at the age of 86.[3][4][9] He was hospitalized the month prior to his death before being discharged to his home.[4] President Duma Boko announced his death in a national address and declared three days of mourning.[22]

Honours and awards

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Mogae was awarded the Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneur by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on 20 March 2008 for his "exemplary leadership" in making Botswana a "model" of democracy and good governance.[23] He also received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Southern California.[24]

At London's City Hall on 20 October 2008, former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated: "President Mogae's outstanding leadership has ensured Botswana's continued stability and prosperity in the face of an HIV/AIDS pandemic which threatened the future of his country and people."[25][26]

In addition, he received a number of honours such as the Naledi Ya Botswana order in 2003 and also received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement in 2005.[1][27][28][29]

In 2010, he became a trustee of the Rhodes Trust.[30] In 2016, Mogae was appointed a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.[31]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Festus Mogae". African Leadership Academy. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "BIOGRAPHY OF HIS EXCELLENCY MR. FESTUS GONTEBANYE MOGAE" (PDF). Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Muia, Wycliffe (8 May 2026). "Festus Mogae: Former Botswana president dies aged 86". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d "Festus Mogae, Botswana President Who Tackled H.I.V., Dies at 86". The New York Times. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  5. ^ "Milestones | Bank of Botswana". www.bankofbotswana.bw.
  6. ^ "About Us - Ministry of Finance".
  7. ^ a b "BOTSWANA: Mogae sworn in as president", IRIN, 20 October 1999.
  8. ^ a b "Botswana: Festus Mogae sworn in as president", Radio Botswana (nl.newsbank.com), 20 October 1999.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Botswana's former president Festus Mogae dies at 86". Reuters. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  10. ^ "Botswana's ex President Festus Mogae dies at 86". APA News. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  11. ^ The Government of Botswana– Vision 2016 Archived 1 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Botswana's Mogae set to retire". AFP. 15 July 2007.
  13. ^ "Former Botswana President Festus Mogae dies aged 86". AOL. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  14. ^ "Special and Personal Representatives and Envoys of the Secretary-General". United Nations. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  15. ^ "Former President of Botswana, Festus Mogae, joins TeachAIDS Advisory Board". TeachAids. 16 September 2010. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  16. ^ Mosikare, Oarabile (19 October 2012). "Inequality defines Botswana". MmegiOnline. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  17. ^ "Mkapa, Mogae to chair sustainable development meet". Daily News. Archived from the original on 21 November 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  18. ^ "Festus Mogae is the former President of Botswana, Club de Madrid Member". Club de Madrid. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  19. ^ "Biography of Festus MOGAE". African Success. Archived from the original on 8 February 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  20. ^ a b Naidoo, Jay (4 April 2014). "A leader I would vote for: Botswana's former president Festus Mogae". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  21. ^ "Biography of His Excellency Festus Gontebanye Mogae, Former President of the Republic of Botswana" (PDF). African Development Bank. July 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  22. ^ "Festus Mogae, Who Led Botswana for a Decade, Dies at 86". Bloomberg. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  23. ^ "Sarkozy décore le président du Botswana pour sa bonne gouvernance" Archived 20 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine, AFP, 20 March 2008 (in French).
  24. ^ "Past Recipients – Honorary Degrees". honorarydegrees.usc.edu. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  25. ^ ap.google.com, Former president of Botswana gets leadership prize Archived 22 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  26. ^ "Home". Reuters.[permanent dead link]
  27. ^ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
  28. ^ "2005 Summit Highlights Photo". His Excellency Festus Mogae, President of Botswana and 2005 honoree, speaking at United Nations symposium.
  29. ^ "2006 Summit Highlights Photo". Golden Plate Awards Council member President Festus G. Mogae of Botswana greets President William J. Clinton.
  30. ^ "The Rhodes Trust and Trustees". Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  31. ^ "FESTUS MOGAE (Trustee of the Rhodes Trust)". Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
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