Former Botswana president Festus Mogae has died at the age of 86 after a brief illness, authorities said on Thursday, in a statement marking the passing of the veteran African statesman who also played a role in South Sudan’s peace process.
Mogae, who led Botswana from 1998 to 2008, was widely credited with consolidating the country’s economic growth and democratic stability during a decade in office.
In South Sudan, Mogae later served as chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) from November 2015 to September 2018, overseeing implementation of the 2015 peace agreement which later faltered.
Born on August 21 1939 in Serowe in eastern Botswana, Mogae studied economics at Oxford and Sussex universities in the United Kingdom before joining Botswana’s Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in 1968. He rose through the ranks to become director of economic affairs and later held senior positions including central bank governor, finance minister and vice president.
He became Botswana’s third president on April 1 1998, succeeding Quett Masire in a peaceful transition, and served two constitutional terms until 2008.
During his presidency, Botswana, once among the world’s poorest countries at independence in 1966, recorded sustained economic growth supported largely by diamond revenues and fiscal reforms.
In 2008, Mogae received the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, recognised for maintaining stability and economic progress amid the HIV AIDS crisis.
Botswana authorities have declared three days of national mourning. President Duma Boko described Mogae as a distinguished statesman and patriot whose life was devoted to the service of his country.
Mogae is survived by his wife and three daughters.
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