Festus Mogae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Festus Mogae
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Mogae in 2009
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| 3rd President of Botswana | |
| In office 1 April 1998 – 1 April 2008 |
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| Vice President | Seretse Ian Khama |
| Preceded by | Quett Masire |
| Succeeded by | Seretse Ian Khama |
| 4th Vice-President of Botswana | |
| In office 1991–1998 |
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| President | Sir Ketumile Masire |
| Preceded by | Peter Mmusi |
| Succeeded by | Seretse Ian Khama |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 August 1939 Serowe, Bechuanaland |
| Nationality | Botswana |
| Political party | Botswana Democratic Party |
| Spouse |
Barbara Mogae
(m. 1967) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University College, Oxford University of Sussex |
| Profession | Economist |
Festus Gontebanye Mogae was born on August 21, 1939. He is a politician and economist from Botswana. He served as the third President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008. He took over from Quett Masire in 1998 and was re-elected in October 2004. After ten years as president, he stepped down in 2008. Seretse Khama Ian Khama became the next president.
About Festus Mogae
Early Life and Education
Festus Mogae studied economics in the United Kingdom. He first attended University College, Oxford, and then the University of Sussex. After his studies, he returned to Botswana. He worked as a civil servant, which means he worked for the government.
He also held important jobs at the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of Botswana. From 1980 to 1981, he was the governor of the Bank of Botswana. Later, he served as the Minister of Finance from 1989 to 1998. He was also the Vice-President of Botswana from 1991 to 1998.
Leading Botswana as President
Mogae's political party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), won the election in October 1999. Festus Mogae was sworn in for a five-year term on October 20, 1999. This ceremony took place at the National Stadium in Gaborone. He promised to work hard to fight poverty and unemployment in Botswana.
His party won again in the October 2004 election. Mogae was sworn in for another term on November 2, 2004. He promised to continue fighting poverty and unemployment. He also made a big promise to stop the spread of HIV-AIDS in Botswana by 2016.
On July 14, 2007, Mogae announced he would resign nine months later. He stepped down as President on April 1, 2008. His Vice-President, Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, became the new president. A rule made in 1997 limited presidents to a total of 10 years in office. This meant Mogae had to leave office in 2008 anyway.
Life After the Presidency
After leaving office, Festus Mogae continued to work on important global issues. He became a Special Envoy for the United Nations Secretary-General on Climate Change. This means he helped the UN with climate change issues.
In 2010, he joined the advisory board of TeachAids, a US nonprofit organization. He also became the chairman of the Choppies supermarket group. In 2013, he worked with former President Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania. They led a meeting about sustainable development.
Family Life
Festus Mogae married Barbara Mogae in 1967. They have three daughters. Their names are Nametso, Chedza, and Boikaego. They were born between 1969 and 1987.
Awards and Special Recognition
Festus Mogae has received many awards for his leadership. French President Nicolas Sarkozy gave him the Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneur on March 20, 2008. This award recognized his "exemplary leadership" in making Botswana a "model" of democracy and good governance.
Some of his other awards include:
- Presidential Order of Honour of Botswana (1989)
- Officier de I’Order Nationale D’e Cote d’Ivoire (1979)
- Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws – University of Botswana (September 1998)
- The Global Marketplace Award by the Corporate Council on Africa - Houston, USA (May 1999)
- Distinguished Achievement Award for AIDS Leadership in Southern Africa by the Medunsa Trust - Washington DC, USA (June 2000)
- AIDS Leadership Award by Harvard AIDS Institute – Gaborone (December 2001)
- Africa-America Institute National Leadership Award – New York, USA (September 2002)
- Honorary Fellow – University College Oxford (2003)
- The Knight Commander of the Most Courteous Order of the Kingdom of Lesotho – Maseru, Lesotho (April 2004)
- The Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI) International Leadership Award – Gaborone (October 2004)
- The Golden Plate Award by the Academy of Achievement - New York, USA (June 2005)
- Doctorate of Humanity by the University of Limkokwing, Gaborone Botswana (January 2008)
- The Commander of the Legion d’Honneur Grand Croix of the Republic of France – Paris, France (March 2008)
- Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Southern California
Mogae won the 2008 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. This prize is given to African leaders who have done great things. He received US$5 million over 10 years and US$200,000 annually for life after that. On October 20, 2008, former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan praised Mogae. He said Mogae's leadership helped Botswana stay stable and successful, even with the HIV/AIDS challenge.
He also received the Naledi Ya Botswana order in 2003. In 2005, he received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement. Since 2010, he has been a Trustee of the Rhodes Trust. In 2016, he became an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
See also
In Spanish: Festus Mogae para niños
