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Liberia’s Sirleaf wins world’s biggest leadership prize
Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, will live happily forever
The former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has been awarded the 2017 Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. This is the biggest annually awarded prize in the world, consisting of: US$5 million over ten years plus US$200,000 per year for life thereafter.
The Chair of the Committee Dr Salim Ahmed Salim praised Sirleaf for ‘her extraordinary efforts to lead country’s recovery following civil war’.
Ms. Sirleaf is only the 5th winner of the award since Sudanese-born telecom pioneer mogul Mo Ibrahim started the award ten years ago. During the last two years, the award has not been awarded to anyone.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who served two terms as President of Liberia from 2006 to 2017 stepped down from power at the end of her constitutionally stated limit of two terms. She was succeeded by former World Footballer of the Year George Weah early this year.
The Ibrahim Prize aims to distinguish leaders who, during their time in office, have developed their countries, strengthened democracy and human rights for the shared benefit of their people, and advanced sustainable development.
In its citation, the Prize Committee praised Sirleaf for “exceptional and transformative leadership, in the face of unprecedented and renewed challenges, to lead Liberia’s recovery following many years of devastating civil war.”
Announcing the decision, Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, Chair of the Prize Committee, said:“Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took the helm of Liberia when it was completely destroyed by civil war and led a process of reconciliation that focussed on building a nation and its democratic institutions. Throughout her two terms in office, she worked tirelessly on behalf of the people of Liberia. Such a journey cannot be without some shortcomings and, today, Liberia continues to face many challenges. Nevertheless, during her twelve years in office, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf laid the foundations on which Liberia can now build.”
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became President of Liberia on 16 January 2006, after winning the 2005 national elections. She served her first term 2006-11 and was then successfully re-elected for a second term, serving in office 2012-17. Since 2006, Liberia was the only country out of 54 to improve in every category and sub-category of the Ibrahim Index of African Governance. This led Liberia to move up ten places in the Index’s overall ranking during this period.
On hearing the outcome of the Prize Committee’s deliberations, Mo Ibrahim said:
I’m delighted that the Prize Committee has decided to make Ellen Johnson Sirleaf an Ibrahim Prize Laureate. In very difficult circumstances, she helped guide her nation towards a peaceful and democratic future, paving the way for her successor to follow. I am proud to see the first woman Ibrahim Laureate, and I hope Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will continue to inspire women in Africa and beyond.”
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf joins Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia (2014), Pedro Pires of Cabo Verde (2011), Festus Mogae of Botswana (2008) and Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique (2007) as an Ibrahim Prize Laureate. Nelson Mandela was made the inaugural Honorary Laureate in 2007.
Previous winners of the award
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation also announced that it will consider granting a further US$200,000 per year for ten years towards public interest activities and good causes espoused by the Ibrahim Laureate.
The candidates for the Ibrahim Prize are all former African executive heads of state or government who have left office during the last three calendar years, having been democratically elected and served their constitutionally mandated term.
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