Botswana mourns death of Festus Mogae, the former president who prioritized HIV/AIDS fight

GABORONE, Botswana (AP) — Festus Mogae, Botswana’s former president who made a national priority of the fight against HIV and AIDS during his tenure from 1998 to 2008, has died at the age of 86, the government said Friday. No cause of death was given.

Botswana President Duma Boko said that under Mogae’s leadership, the country earned international respect for principled, sound economic management and a commitment to democracy. He said the country would undergo three days of national mourning in honor of its former head of state.

Botswana, a sparsely populated and arid country in southern Africa, is the biggest producer of diamonds by value and the second biggest by volume behind Russia. Diamonds account for around 80% of Botswana’s exports and a quarter of its gross domestic product, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Mogae is credited with championing the fight against HIV/AIDS in Botswana, which he made a national priority, and launched free access to antiretroviral drugs at public health facilities in 2002 and extending it to noncitizens in 2019.

This led to a significant decease in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the country, which at the time had one of the highest infection rates in the world.

Boko said Mogae carried the name of Botswana with dignity across the world and remained a voice of reason, unity and progress throughout his life.

“Today Botswana mourns a distinguished statesman, a patriot whose life was devoted to the service of his country,” said Boko in an address to the nation.

Mogae won the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership — one of the most prestigious honors for African governance — recognizing his democratic leadership and peaceful transfer of power.

Botswana has unearthed all of the world’s largest rough diamonds over the last decade, including a 2,492-carat stone discovered last year that was the second-biggest diamond ever dug out of a mine and the biggest in more than a century.

Mogae, an economist by profession, was the governor of the Bank of Botswana before leading the country.

FILE - President of the Republic of Botswana Festus Mogae answers reporters questions after being awarded Commander in the Legion of Honor by French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace in Paris, March 20, 2008. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon, Pool, File)

FILE - President of the Republic of Botswana Festus Mogae looks on at an interactive meeting of a high level delegation from Botswana and members of the Indian Merchants' Chamber, one of India's leading trade bodies, in Mumbai, India, Dec. 12, 2006. (AP Photo/Gautam Singh, File)

FILE - President of the Republic of Botswana Festus Mogae inspects the ceremonial guard of honor at the Rashtrapati Bhawan (Presidential Palace), in New Delhi, Dec. 8, 2006. (AP Photo/ Mustafa Quraishi, File)

FILE - President of the Republic of Botswana Festus Mogae addresses the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, Sept. 26, 2007, at the U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Ed Betz, File)

NEW DELHI (AP) — Finn Allen's 47-ball century against Delhi Capitals rushed Kolkata Knight Riders to their fourth straight win in the Indian Premier League on Friday.

Allen finally struck form with an unbeaten 100 including 10 sixes and five boundaries, as Kolkata cruised to 147-2 in 14.2 overs for a thumping eight-wicket win.

Delhi struggled on a slow pitch and was restricted to 142-8 despite opening batters Pathum Nissanka (50) and Lokesh Rahul (23) providing a decent start of 49 in the first five overs.

Kolkata was up to seventh in the table, three points off the top four. Delhi was eighth and still mathematically in the playoffs race.

Allen accidentally ran out fellow opener and captain Ajinkya Rahane when his shot deflected off Mitchell Starc's hand onto Rahane's stumps. But Allen made up for it, and rewarded persistence after coming into the game with 110 runs from six games.

“I’ve been working on having more strings in my bow,” Allen said. “I've got a few starts, frustrating not to carry on. Nice to have some personal success. Sometimes being left out changes your perspective. Allows time for mental refresh. I was putting too much pressure on myself."

The New Zealander reached a half-century off 32 balls and the second fifty off just 15. His batting partner, million dollar signing Cameroon Green, was content to feed Allen the strike and watch the fireworks.

When Kolkata was on the brink of victory and Allen was on 94, Green teed up his teammate who smashed Mukesh Kumar with his 10th six to reach his hundred and clinch the win.

Green was unbeaten on 33 off 27 balls.

“I knew I'd be the most hated player in Kolkata if I didn't help him get the ton,” Green said.

Delhi was put in to bat, lost wickets in clusters, and slumped to 89-5 in the 11th over. That included the key dismissal of Nissanka, stumped after reaching 50.

Kolkata spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy frustrated Delhi by bowling a combined eight overs for just 45 runs.

“We were short on runs,” Delhi skipper Axar Patel said. “We lost five wickets in two-three overs and lost momentum.”

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Kolkata Knight Riders' Finn Allen plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi, India, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Kolkata Knight Riders' Finn Allen celebrates his century during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi, India, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Delhi Capitals' Vipraj Nigam reacts after getting hit for consecutive sixes during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi, India, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Kolkata Knight Riders' Kartik Tyagi, left, celebrates with teammates the wicket of Delhi Capitals' KL Rahul during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi, India, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Delhi Capitals' Tristan Stubbs is bowled out by Kolkata Knight Riders' Anukul Roy during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi, India, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Delhi Capitals' Ashutosh Sharma plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi, India, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Kolkata Knight Riders' Finn Allen plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi, India, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)