Maxence Melo
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H.E. Dr Salim Ahmed Salim appointed as second chair of the Prize Committee of the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership
Tuesday, 22 February 2011:
DrSalim Ahmed Salim, former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity and former Prime Minister of Tanzania, has been appointed Chair of the Prize Committee of the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, on which he currently serves as a member. Dr Salim, who is also a member of the Board of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, takes over from former United Nations Secretary-General and Nobel Laureate, Kofi Annan, who has chaired the Committee for the last four years.
In his new role, Dr Salim will oversee the selection of winners of the Ibrahim Prize, which recognises and celebrates excellence in African leadership.
The 2008 Ibrahim Prize Laureate, former President of Botswana, H.E. President Festus Mogae, will join Dr Salim on the Prize Committee. President Mogae is currently also the Chairperson of the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa and Founder of Champions for an HIV Free Generation. He was awarded the 2008 Ibrahim Prize for his outstanding leadership in ensuring Botswanas continued prosperity in the face of an HIV/AIDS pandemic and for his careful stewardship of Botswanas natural wealth for the benefit of citizens.
Dr Salim Ahmed Salim said of his appointment to Chair, The success, or failure, of African countries is a function of our political leadership. It is no coincidence that visionary leaders such as our previous Laureates Presidents Chissano, Mandela and Mogae, have transformed their countries fortunes or amplified success in the face of huge challenges. That is why the Prize is so important - we have to recognise the vital role that leadership plays on the continent. I am delighted to be able to take forward the deliberations on what constitutes exceptional leadership, and to help provide a platform for African role models to be recognised and celebrated, and to continue in a life of public service after office.
H.E. Mr Kofi Annan said, It has been a great privilege and honour to serve as the first Chair of the Prize Committee of the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. If there is one area, which above all will determine the direction of Africas future, it is the quality of its governance and leadership. For a continent at peace with itself requires more than the absence of war. It requires leaders to embrace respect for human rights, the rule of law, and transparent, effective and accountable governance. This is why the Ibrahim Prize is so important: it celebrates excellence in African leadership and encourages progress across the whole continent.
Dr Mo Ibrahim, founder and chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, said of the appointment, Salim has been a key member of the Foundation and the Prize Committee since the very beginning. His unrivalled experience both as Prime Minister and in numerous diplomatic roles, including as Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union) for an unprecedented three terms, mean he is ideally placed to assess what constitutes excellent leadership on the continent. We are grateful to Kofi Annan for the experience and expertise he has brought to the Committee over the past four years. As the inaugural Chair of the Committee his contribution has been invaluable.
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For more information please contact Risha Chande chande.r@moibrahimfoundation.org, +44 7817 723 720
About the Prize Committee:
- The Prize Committee assesses democratically elected, African former Executive Heads of State or Government who have served their term in office within the limits set by their countrys constitution, and have left office within the last three years.
- The Ibrahim Prize consists of US$5million over 10 years and US$200,000 annually for life thereafter. The Foundation will consider granting a further $200,000 per year, for 10 years, towards public interest activities and good causes espoused by the winner.
- The Prize Committee will now be chaired by former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity and former Prime Minister of Tanzania (and Board member of the Foundation), Dr Salim Ahmed Salim and is comprised of Martti Ahtisaari, former President of Finland and Nobel Laureate; Aïcha Bah Diallo, President, Network for Education for All in Africa and former Minister of Education in Guinea; Mohamed ElBaradei, former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and Nobel Laureate; Graça Machel, Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, and former Minister of Education and Culture in Mozambique; Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (and Board member of the Foundation); and Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana and 2008 Ibrahim Prize Laureate.
- The previous winners of the Ibrahim Prize are Festus Mogae, the former President of Botswana; Joaquim Chissano, the former President of Mozambique; and Nelson Mandela, who was made an Honorary Laureate in recognition of his extraordinary leadership qualities and achievements.
About the Foundation
Established in 2006, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation aims to support good governance and great leadership in Africa. The Foundation works to:
- Stimulate debate on good governance
- Provide criteria by which citizens and governments can measure progress
- Recognise achievement in African leadership and provide a practical way in which leaders can build positive legacies on the continent when they have left office
- Support aspiring leaders for the African continent.
