Liberia's ex-president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has won the $5m (N1.8bn)Mo Ibrahim prize for African Leadership. Mrs Sirleaf, who stepped down last month, became Africa's first elected female president in 2006. She was praised for her work rebuilding the nation after civil war and leading a process of reconciliation.
The prize committee admitted that while Ms Sirleaf was accused of tolerating corruption, she had shown exceptional leadership in difficult circumstances. It added that Liberia was the only country out of 54 to improve in every category and sub-category of the Ibrahim Index of African Governance.
Mrs Sirleaf served two terms as president, but could not run again in recent polls, which were won by former footballer George Weah. Her own party has expelled her, alleging she had campaigned for Mr Weah rather than her party's candidate.
She is the fifth recipient of the prize since 2007, which celebrates African leaders who governed well, raised living standards and then left office. The $5m(N1.8bn) prize is spread over 10 years and is followed by $200,000 (N72.2mn)a year for life.
The Mo Ibrahim prize committee uses five criteria to select a winner. The winner has to be a former African head of state or government; has to have been democratically elected; and should have left office within the last three calendar years before the award.
The candidate also has to have served only the constitutionally mandated term and demonstrated exceptional leadership. According to the Foundation, President Chissano received the inaugural Ibrahim Prize for bringing peace, reconciliation, stable democracy and economic progress to Mozambique following the civil war.
President Mandela received an honorary award for his personal sacrifice and dedicating himself to the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. President Mogae was awarded the second Ibrahim Prize for his role in maintaining and consolidating Botswana’s stability and prosperity in the face of an HIV/Aids pandemic.
President Pires was awarded the 2011 Ibrahim Prize for his role in transforming Cape Verde into a model of democracy and stability, while President Pohamba was awarded the 2014 Ibrahim Prize for his role in forging national cohesion, reconciliation and economic development.
But it is not always awarded. On six occasions, no leader was considered worthy of it.
Mo Ibrahim prize timeline:
2007: Mozambique's former President Joaquim Chissano
2008: Botswana's former President Festus Mogae
2009: No award given
2010: No award given
2011: Cape Verde's former President Pedro Verona Pires
2012: No award given
2013: No award given
2014: Namibia's former President Hifikipunye Pohamba
2015: No award given
2016: No award given
