Page 7 - Nile Explorer Issue 12

in African Leadership, with the first
recipient former President Joaquim
Chissano of Mozambique. The
Foundation publishes the Ibrahim
Index of African Governance, ranking
the performance of all 54 African
countries. Until 2009, the Index took
into account only the 48 countries in
Sub-Saharan Africa. The Foundation
offers scholarships at University of
Birmingham, SOAS, and London
Business School. These scholarships are
on topics of International Development
at University of Birmingham,
Governance of Development in Africa at
SOAS, and an MBA at London Business MO Ibrahim with EX-wife Hania Morsi Fadl
School. The scholarships are initiated for
African students, both master students life stipend, which made it the largest into something in itself”, according
and postgraduates.
individual prize in the world. to Hadeel Ibrahim. “All of us in the
In 1973, Ibrahim married Hania Morsi The first Mo Ibrahim prize, awarded in foundation would now say the index is
Fadl, an Alexandria University graduate October 2007, went to Joaquin Chissano, the most important aspect of what we
from the year above him, whom he the ex-president of Mozambique, who do. Only one person can benefit from
had known since childhood. Fadli is had brought his country out of the the prize, but 700 million Africans can
[
a Sudanese-born British radiologist, violence and starvation of the 80s, engage with the index and benefit from
running the only breast cancer clinic in ushering in peace and multi-party it.”
Sudan. They are now divorced,
democracy and using development The index, which ranks countries
They have a daughter, Hadeel Ibrahim, money to assist the transition from a according to 58 criteria in five main
who is executive director of the Mo Marxist to a market economy. He stood categories, has also provoked its share
Ibrahim Foundation, vice chair of the down as president without seeking the of controversy. “There is a very healthy
Africa Centre in New York, and a board third term to which the constitution debate about it inside the foundation,”
member of the Clinton Foundation; entitled him, in order to help foster the Mary Robinson says, “and we are very
and two sons Hosh and Sami Ibrahim. growth of democratic institutions. much in the mood that there is room for
Ibrahim resides in the United Kingdom improvement.”
The businessman who prides himself on
Ibrahim subsequently focused his never having paid a bribe now seems to Since its inception in 2007, the Ibrahim
attention on investing and philanthropic be offering a bribe to political leaders. Prize has been awarded to six Laureates
efforts, in particular the Mo Ibrahim Criticism of the prize comes both from from across Africa. Through their
Foundation, which he created in 2006 in those who think that it’s too big (why so work, these Laureates are continuously
an effort to foster improved governance much money for leaders who are only contributing to the transformation of
of African countries. The foundation doing what they’re elected to do?) and the continent.
promoted increased accountability via too small (it’s not actually enough to The winners of the Mo Ibrahim prize
the Ibrahim Index, a rating system for deter corruption; $500,000 a year would include, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela,
governing bodies, and from 2007 it be small change for, say, a Nigerian as 2007 Honorary Ibrahim Laureate,
awarded the Ibrahim Prize to African politician). President Joaquim Alberto Chissano
leaders meeting standards established Increasingly, though, the prize is not in 2007, Former President Festus
by the foundation’s board. Ibrahim the main focus of the Mo Ibrahim Gontebanye Mogae of Botswana in 2008
acknowledged that these standards Foundation’s work. The money grabs and Former President of Cape Verde,
were such that the prize, intended as the headlines and offers the possibility Pedro De Verona Rodrigues Pires in
an annual one, might not be granted in of a glamorous televised party with 2011.
some years. (In fact, after being awarded some of the continent’s finest musicians.
in 2008, the prize was not bestowed But the Mo Ibrahim Index of African Other winners are President Hifikepunye
again until 2011.) At its founding, the Governance, originally conceived of Pohamba, former President of Namibia
Ibrahim Prize was worth $5 million, as a way of helping the committee to in 2014 and President Ellen Johnson
paid over a decade, plus an additional Sirleaf who won in 2017.
determine the prize, has since “evolved

The Nile Explorer 012 | 7