No African leader gets the Mo Ibrahim Prize, this year

October 19, 2009 03:22PMT

The $5m annual prize for good governance in Africa will not be awarded to any ex-African leader this year, according to the Mo Ibrahim foundation, the organisers of the award.

Giving no reason for this decision, the foundation on its website stated that “the Prize Committee has considered some credible candidates, however, after in-depth review, the Prize Committee could not select a winner.” Former South Africa and Ghanaian president; Thabo Mbeki and John Kufuor had been slated the favourites for this year’s award.

Mr Ibrahim, a Sudanese entrepreneur had at the inception of the award three years ago stated that “there may be years when there is no winner.” The Board of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation also confirmed that despite no laureate this year, the planned events in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania scheduled for the 14th and 15th November 2009 will go ahead. These events will include a discussion forum on issues that are key to the continent’s future such as climate change, justice, agriculture and food security and regional economic integration to articulate shared aspirations and a common vision.

Former winners of the Ibrahim Prize are Festus Mogae, the former President of Botswana,Joaquim Chissano, the former President of Mozambique and Nelson Mandela, who was made an Honorary Laureate in recognition of his extraordinary leadership qualities and achievements.

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Reader Comments (4)

Posted by George on Oct 19 2009

I think with the current development in Africa of recent including poverty, diseases and political uncertainties, no African leader worth the prize. In the first place, the leadership prize instituted by Mob Ibrahim seems to me as bribing the supposed African leaders to serve their people. However, I still believe the selection Committee must have had strong reasons for their decision not to award this prize this year just like the NLNG literature prize.

Posted by George on Oct 19 2009

Posted by Elvis on Oct 19 2009

That serves them right.Yusuf Mohammed rightly opined that all of them are Boko Haram.None of the so called oppotunists called leaders in Africa deserves the price.

Posted by Kelechi Okoro on Oct 19 2009

This is rubbish. This prize will never reach a level of international recognition if they decide to just not give it out. After all, they can't be surprised about African leaders. They knew who they were dealing with. I still believe there is at least one person who deserves the prize. If not, why not open it up to other politicians or people who have influenced peace and development in Africa? Why not recognize past leaders or past activists? What's wrong with John Kufuor, or Kofi Annan, or Jean Ping? What about people like Ian Khama? If the award committee pulls this stunt once more, I'm quite sure everyone will completely forget about this award and what it sets out to achieve. Can you imagine the Nobel Committee just saying that they decided not to award the Peace Prize for no particular reason?