The 2017 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership has been awarded to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation announced today following a meeting of its independent Prize Committee.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who served two terms as President of Liberia from 2006 to 2017, is the fifth recipient of the Ibrahim Prize, which recognises and celebrates excellence in African leadership. 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 her 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.
The Ibrahim Prize is a US$5 million award paid over ten years and US$200,000 annually for life thereafter. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation 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.
Any African President including Humbly Dumbly should be asking themselves if they can even be considered for such a prize since this is a good measure of ones governance credentials as a President…it is an appraisal of ones claims
Can our humble leader qualify for this or 5 million is too little an amount to vie for? Our country has really settled for less in our quest to develop. i am sure the next one to win this prize will be the Botswana president.
What about RB?
Award for what when John Sirleaf has been the disaster to Liberia? Those who understand Liberoa, will be very shocked seeing what has become of Ibrahim’s democracy initiative when the likes of Sirleaf can deserve this award. The woman has wrecked Liberia with institutionalized poverty through her corrupt practices and revkless incompetence. The country received the best goodwill in sipport from the international community. She has left Liberia with no clean water, healthcare, education, energy, food security, roads, economy or jobs. Her only achievement is having made her sons and relations US $ Billionaires after making them her Central Bank Governor, Finance and comnerce Ministers.
Understand Liberia’s state of hopelessness under Sirleaf.
@senior citizen she is far much better than your hero here.
Not surprising. She is a star, a shinning star!
Congrats to madam SJ; She is an inspiration to African women;
she has been a great inspiration to many women around the world. wish her long life
I very much doubt Edgar Lungu will ever qualify when his time comes.
How long has it been since someone won this prize? And when will a Zambian president ever come close to winning it?
What now do they say, those who decided to expel her from her party?