Written by Lisa Murimi
Botswana is mourning the loss of one of its most accomplished diplomats, Ambassador Legwaila Joseph M. J. Legwaila, who passed away on October 31, 2025, in Gaborone.
In a statement released by the Ministry of International Relations (MIR), the government described Ambassador Legwaila as a “highly respected national leader, a beloved member of the MIR community, and an inspiring trailblazer within the public service,” whose life was marked by over four decades of devoted service to Botswana and its people.
Ambassador Legwaila began his illustrious career as an Assistant External Affairs Officer in the Office of the President before becoming Senior Private Secretary to Botswana’s founding President, Sir Seretse Khama.
He later rose to become Botswana’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York, where he left an indelible mark on global diplomacy.
During his tenure at the UN, Ambassador Legwaila championed Botswana’s national interests on the world stage, serving as Vice-President of the UN General Assembly in 1981, 1987, and 1991.
He also represented Botswana on the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member, including serving as Council President in February 1995 and March 1996.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to national and international service, the late President Sir Ketumile Masire awarded him the Presidential Order of Honour in 1992.
Globally, he was celebrated for his diplomatic finesse, serving as Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) in 2000, and later as UN Special Advisor on Africa in 2006.
In the SADC region, Ambassador Legwaila played a vital peacebuilding role as Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Namibia during the country’s transition to independence in 1989–1990.
He also led an OAU election observation mission in South Africa in 1990, contributing to the country’s democratic transformation.
In recent years, he served as Special Advisor to former President Festus Mogae during the Sudan Peace Process (2015–2018), reaffirming his lifelong commitment to peace and justice.
The MIR hailed his legacy as that of “a quintessential diplomat and global peacemaker.”
May the soul of Ambassador Legwaila Joseph Legwaila rest in eternal peace.
