THE MO IBRAHIM FOUNDATION PRIZE INDEX ANNOUNCEMENT
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.
The BBC had this to say about the award:
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.
The BBC had this to say about the award:
"Mr Ibrahim argues that the prize is needed because many African leaders come from poor backgrounds and are tempted to hang on to power for fear that poverty is what awaits them when they give up the levers of power.
But our analyst says recent evidence of the prize's effectiveness across Africa is not encouraging.
Uganda, Chad and Cameroon have all changed their constitutions so their leaders can retain their positions.
There have been coups in Guinea, Mauritania and Madagascar, as well as several elections that fell well short of international standards.
And the countries that have received most praise from Mo Ibrahim's foundation this year - Mauritius, Cape Verde and Seychelles - are far from the continent's centres of power.
Botswana's former President Festus Mogae won the prize last year, after two terms at the helm of one of Africa's least corrupt and most prosperous nations.
The inaugural prize was given to Joaquim Chissano, Mozambique's former president, who has since acted as a mediator in several African disputes".
But our analyst says recent evidence of the prize's effectiveness across Africa is not encouraging.
Uganda, Chad and Cameroon have all changed their constitutions so their leaders can retain their positions.
There have been coups in Guinea, Mauritania and Madagascar, as well as several elections that fell well short of international standards.
And the countries that have received most praise from Mo Ibrahim's foundation this year - Mauritius, Cape Verde and Seychelles - are far from the continent's centres of power.
Botswana's former President Festus Mogae won the prize last year, after two terms at the helm of one of Africa's least corrupt and most prosperous nations.
The inaugural prize was given to Joaquim Chissano, Mozambique's former president, who has since acted as a mediator in several African disputes".
BLACK HISTORY MONTH LISTINGS
Find out about events for Black History month across the UK by logging on to:http://www.irr.org.uk/2009/october/bw000006.htmlorhttp://www.irr.org.uk/event/index.html
NEW REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONSThe No Border Scotland Network has published its first newsletter.Download the newsletter at:http://noborderscotland.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/nbs12.pdf (pdf file 412kb)The Department for Children, Schools and Families has published statistics on: 'Permanent and fixed period exclusions from schools and exclusion appeals in England, 2007/08'.Download the statistics at:http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000860/SFR18_2009_FINAL.pdf (pdf file 96kb)The Communities and Local Government Department has published: '2009 Addendum to the Race Equality Scheme 2005-2008'.Download the addendum at:http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/1349983.pdf (pdf file 476kb)FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 DISCLOSURESUnder the Freedom of Information Act the Metropolitan Police has released information on: 'Borough breakdown of stops and searches - August 2009'.View and download the information at:http://www.met.police.uk/foi/whats_new.htmUnder the Freedom of Information Act the Home Office has released information on the: 'Policing of G20 protests'.View and download the information at:http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/freedom-of-information/released-information/foi-archive-crime/11850_policing_of_G20protests
Find out about events for Black History month across the UK by logging on to:http://www.irr.org.uk/2009/october/bw000006.htmlorhttp://www.irr.org.uk/event/index.html
NEW REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONSThe No Border Scotland Network has published its first newsletter.Download the newsletter at:http://noborderscotland.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/nbs12.pdf (pdf file 412kb)The Department for Children, Schools and Families has published statistics on: 'Permanent and fixed period exclusions from schools and exclusion appeals in England, 2007/08'.Download the statistics at:http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000860/SFR18_2009_FINAL.pdf (pdf file 96kb)The Communities and Local Government Department has published: '2009 Addendum to the Race Equality Scheme 2005-2008'.Download the addendum at:http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/1349983.pdf (pdf file 476kb)FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 DISCLOSURESUnder the Freedom of Information Act the Metropolitan Police has released information on: 'Borough breakdown of stops and searches - August 2009'.View and download the information at:http://www.met.police.uk/foi/whats_new.htmUnder the Freedom of Information Act the Home Office has released information on the: 'Policing of G20 protests'.View and download the information at:http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/freedom-of-information/released-information/foi-archive-crime/11850_policing_of_G20protests
