Mo Ibrahim Foundation announces decision not to award Ibrahim Prize this year

Mo Ibrahim Foundation announces decision not to award Ibrahim Prize this year
Foundation to hold governance forum in Dar Es Salaam where African stakeholders will gather to discuss
key issues and opportunities for progress
In announcing the decision of the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership Prize Committee,
the Board of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation released the following statement from the Prize Committee:
“The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is committed to supporting great African leadership that will improve the
economic and social prospects of the people of Africa. The Foundation’s focus is the promotion of good
governance in Africa and the recognition of excellence in African leadership.
The Prize Committee welcomed the progress made on governance in some African countries while noting
with concern recent setbacks in other countries.
This year the Prize Committee has considered some credible candidates. However, after in-depth review,
the Prize Committee could not select a winner.”
Mo Ibrahim, the founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, said:
“The Prize Committee is independent of the Board. It is the Prize Committee’s decision not to award a
Prize this year and we entirely respect it. We made clear at the launch of the Foundation that there may
be years when there is no winner.
This Foundation was established to stimulate debate around, and improve the quality of, African
governance. Although there is much focus on the prize, the Foundation is engaged in many other
activities to help improve governance. Central to these is the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, which
the Foundation published earlier this month, which gives powerful information to all citizens about the
performance of their countries.”
The Board of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation also confirmed that despite the fact that there is no laureate this
year, the planned events in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on 14 and 15 November 2009 will go ahead.
These events will include a discussion forum that will bring together stakeholders to discuss issues that
are key to Africa’s future progress including climate justice, agriculture and food security and regional
economic integration. The aim of the forum is to articulate shared aspirations and a common vision for the
future around these issues.

Mo Ibrahim said of the forum: “At a time when, we are seeing overall progress in Africa, despite worrying
setbacks in some countries, it is vital that African stakeholders and institutions come together to look for a
way forward on the major challenges facing the African continent. I look forward to the discussions
around this urgent African agenda.”
The forum will include the following sessions:
o Climate change and climate justice chaired by President Festus Mogae. President Mogae
is one of United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon’s four special envoys on
climate change.
o Agriculture and food security, chaired by H.E. Mr Kofi Annan. Mr Annan is Chairman of
the Board of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
o Regional Economic Integration, chaired by H.E. Mr Abdoulie Janneh. Mr Janneh is
Secretary-General of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
http://www.moibrahimfoundation.org/en

MO IBRAHIM

Sudan-born mobile phone entrepreneur

Moved to UK in 1974 to study

By 1983, director of BT Cellnet

Founded Mobile Systems International, which he sold to Marconi in 2000

Then set up Celtel, used by 25m Africans

2007: Started African leadership prize

2008: Named UK's most influential black person