BEVERLY HILLS, February 28, (THEWILL) – The Mo Ibrahim Foundation has announced that there is no winner of the 2016 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership.
The candidates for the Prize are all former African executive heads of state or government who have left their office during the last three calendar years (2014-2016), having been democratically elected and served their constitutionally mandated term.
According to a statement on Tuesday, the foundation said it made the decision following a meeting of the independent prize committee chaired by Salim Ahmed Salim.
“As I emphasise each year, a very high bar was deliberately set when the prize was launched in 2006,” the statement read quoting Salim.
“We recognise and applaud the important contributions that many African leaders have made to change their countries for the better.
“But the prize is intended to highlight and celebrate truly exceptional leadership, which is uncommon by its very definition.
“After careful consideration, the committee has decided not to award the prize in 2016.”
This is the second year in a row that the foundation will withhold the award which many thought former President Goodluck Jonathan should have received.
Since its launch in 2006, the Prize has only been awarded to four ex-leaders: President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia (2014), President Pedro Pires of Cabo Verde (2011), President Festus Mogae of Botswana (2008), and President Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique (2007) while Nelson Mandela was the inaugural Honorary Laureate in 2007.
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