First Woman President in Africa

15/02/2018

13:33

Fonte :

KUP

First Woman President in Africa and the first to Win the Prize

According to Voice of America, former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is the winner of the Ibrahim Award for Excellence in African Leadership, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation announced Monday. The chairman of the Prize Committee, Salim Ahmed Salim, justified the decision by saying that “Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took command of Liberia after the country was completely destroyed by the civil war and led a concerted reconciliation process in the construction of national unity and strong democratic institutions. ” Hearing the outcome of the deliberations of the Prize Committee, Mo Ibrahim said: “I am pleased that the Prize Committee has decided to make Ellen Johnson Sirleaf the Ibrahim Prize laureate. In very difficult circumstances, she helped guide her nation towards a peaceful and prosperous future, and prepared the way for her successor to follow. I am proud to see the first woman Laureate Ibrahim and I hope that Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will continue to inspire women in Africa and beyond. ” Ellen Johnson Sirleaf served as President between 2006 and 2017 and led the first peaceful transfer of power in the country in 70 years by handing the president over to former soccer player George Weah. The Committee praised Sirleaf’s exceptional and transformative leadership in the face of unprecedented and renewed challenges to lead the recovery of Liberia after many years of devastating civil war. The first female President of an African country and the first to receive the prize, are Hifikepunye Pohamba from Namibia (2014), Pedro Pires from Cape Verde (2011), Festus Mogae from Botswana (2008) and Joaquim Chissano from Mozambique 2007) as Laureate of the Ibrahim Prize. Nelson Mandela was named the inaugural Honorary Laureate in 2007. The Ibrahim Prize has a monetary value of $ 5 million paid over the life of the laureate.

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