Festus Mogae, Botswana’s former president who guided the diamond-rich nation for a decade, has died at 86. The government declared three days of mourning.
Mogae served as the country’s third president from 1998 to 2008, handing power peacefully to his vice president, Ian Khama. An economist by training, he won international praise for prudent economic management and for openly tackling one of the world’s highest HIV/AIDS rates, adopting a comprehensive treatment program.
Born in Serowe in 1939, Mogae studied in Britain and joined Botswana’s civil service after independence in 1966. He served as finance minister and vice president before becoming president, stepping down after the constitutional limit of two terms.
President Duma Boko announced Mogae’s death early Friday, saying, “Botswana mourns a distinguished statesman.” Mogae had been in ill health recently, receiving care in the capital, Gaborone. He is remembered for strengthening governance and managing rapid growth driven by diamond revenues.
