THE Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African
Leadership — the world’s biggest individual
prize — was not awarded for a third time in four
years as no suitable candidates were found, it was announced Monday.

At a press conference in London, the Mo
Ibrahim Foundation said it was not going to
compromise on its standard of excellence in a leader.

The award, set up by Sudan-born telecoms
tycoon Mo Ibrahim in 2006, carries a $5 million
prize paid over 10 years and $200,000 annually
for life from then on, with a further $200,000
per year available for 10 years for good causes
backed by the winner.
The award goes to a democratically-elected
African leader who has served their mandated
term and left office in the last three years.
"You make your bed, you have to lie on it. If we
said we're going to have a prize for exceptional
leadership, we have to stick to that. We are not
going to compromise," Ibrahim said.
"We are not just in the business of positive
messages -- we would lose our credibility."

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation has awarded the
annual prize only three times since it was
established, plus two special awards given to
South Africa's Nelson Mandela and South
African former archbishop Desmond Tutu.
The prize committee said they reviewed a
number of eligible candidates "but none met the
criteria needed to win this award".
"The award is about excellence in leadership. In
the first six years the prize committee has
selected three very worthy laureates who
continue to be an inspiration and whose
examples, we hope, will be emulated."

The inaugural prize went to former president
Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique in 2007 and
Botswana's ex-president Festus Mogae won in 2008.
The prize was not awarded in the following two
years. Former Cape Verde president Pedro Pires
won the 2011 prize.

The London-based foundation also publishes the
Ibrahim Index, ranking 52 African countries
according to 88 indicators grouped under safety
and the rule of law, participation and human
rights, sustainable economic opportunity and human
development.

source:
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