Former Botswana president Festus Mogae has died at the age of 86 Political Affairs

The former leader was praised for good governance and the fight against HIV/AIDS in the southern African country.

Former Botswana president Festus Mogae has died at the age of 86, the government has announced, with three days of national mourning.

Mogae led the southern African country for ten years and won praise for good governance and the fight against HIV/AIDS. He was the third president of Botswana from 1998 to 2008, handing over power to Vice President Ian Khama during a successful transition that marked Botswana’s history of political peace.

Mogae, an economist, oversaw economic growth during his two years in office.

“As a nation, we mourn the loss of a remarkable leader and servant of the people whose commitment to Botswana remained unwavering throughout his life,” President Duma Boko said on Friday.

Mogae was born in Serowe on August 21, 1939, and was educated in Britain before joining the Botswana government after independence in 1966.

He served as finance minister and vice president before becoming the country’s third president after Ketumile Masire stepped down.

Mogae retired after two years in office and was replaced by Khama, a former army chief and the son of Botswana’s first president.

Mogae is being praised for publicly fighting HIV/AIDS as Botswana faced a record number of people infected with the virus, and hosted one of Africa’s largest HIV programs.

In 2008, he won the prestigious Ibrahim Award for his leadership in stability and excellence in times of crisis.

After leaving this position, he became the chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, which played a major role in monitoring the peace process in South Sudan.