About Festus Mogae
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. 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 organisations and served as an advocate for HIV/AIDS treatment. 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.
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