Festus G. Mogae was president of Botswana from April 1, 1998 to April 1, 2008. He was born on August 21, 1939 at Serowe in the Central District of Botswana. He studied economics at the universities of Oxford and Sussex in the United Kingdom. He started his career as a public officer in 1968 as planning officer. He was Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning from 1975 to 1976.

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. Botswana is also considered a leader in Southern African politics, and earns praise for the stable example its sets for its neighbors.