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. 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. and as the Minister of Finance from 1989 to 1998. He was Vice-President of Botswana from 1991 to 1998 during the administration of Sir Ketumile Masire. by Chief Justice Julian Nganunu at the National Stadium in Gaborone. 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.
On 14 July 2007, Mogae affirmed his intention to resign nine months later. He stepped down as President on 1 April 2008 and was succeeded by Vice-President Lieutenant General Ian Khama.
Mogae served as Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General on Climate Change. In 2010, he joined the advisory board of US nonprofit TeachAids. He also served as chairman of the Choppies supermarket group where he earned Pula 529,000 in 2011.
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.
Personal life and death
Mogae was born in Serowe on 21 August 1939.
Mogae married Barbara Mogae in 1967. They have three daughters, born between 1969 and 1987: Nametso, Chedza and Boikaego.
Mogae died at his home in Gaborone, Botswana, on 8 May 2026, at the age of 86. He was hospitalized the month prior to his death before being discharged to his home. President Duma Boko announced his death in a national address and declared three days of mourning.
Honours and awards
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. He also received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Southern California.
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."
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.
In 2010, he became a trustee of the Rhodes Trust. In 2016, Mogae was appointed a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.