Mo Ibrahim declines to award 2009 African leadership prize

By RFI-English

October 19, 2009

Photo:

Former prize winner and ex-president of Mozamique Joaquim Chissano (l), and Sudanese billionaire Mo Ibrahim (r).

(Photo: AFP)

Now in its third year, the prize is given to a democratically elected leader from sub-Saharan Africa who has served their term and then left office peacefully.

The winners receive $5 million dollars over 10 years, and then $200,000 dollars a year for life after that - the most valuable individual annual award in the world.

South Africa's Thabo Mbeki and Ghana's John Kufuor had been the favourites.

Ibrahim said people could draw their own conclusions about why no prize was awarded this year.

However, he stressed that there was "no issue of disrespect" meant towards eligible candidates.

A press release on the Mo Ibrahim Foundation website said “although there is much focus on the prize, the Foundation is engaged in many other activities to help improve governance..[including] to stimulate debate around, and improve the quality of, African governance.”

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