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Mozambique ex-leader wins prize | Mozambique ex-leader wins prize |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Former Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano has won the first Mo Ibrahim prize rewarding a retired African head of state for excellence in leadership. | Former Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano has won the first Mo Ibrahim prize rewarding a retired African head of state for excellence in leadership. |
Mr Chissano, who is credited with bringing peace to Mozambique, had been seen as a frontrunner for the prize. | Mr Chissano, who is credited with bringing peace to Mozambique, had been seen as a frontrunner for the prize. |
The prize, announced by former UN head Kofi Annan, is worth $5m (£2.5m) over 10 years, and then $200,000 a year. | The prize, announced by former UN head Kofi Annan, is worth $5m (£2.5m) over 10 years, and then $200,000 a year. |
Mobile phone millionaire Mo Ibrahim is funding the project in the hope it will help improve governments' performance. | Mobile phone millionaire Mo Ibrahim is funding the project in the hope it will help improve governments' performance. |
The Sudanese businessman also hopes it will increase Africa's self-sufficiency and bring a day when the continent's people no longer need to live on aid. | The Sudanese businessman also hopes it will increase Africa's self-sufficiency and bring a day when the continent's people no longer need to live on aid. |
His decision not to seek a third presidential term reinforced Mozambique's democratic maturity Kofi Annan on Joaquim Chissano Profile: Joaquim Chissano Mozambicans hail award | |
Mr Annan chaired the panel that awarded the prize, billed as the largest of its kind. | |
Mr Annan praised Mr Chissano for "his most outstanding contribution" to peace and democracy. | |
"This remarkable reconciliation between opponents provides a shining example to the rest of the world and is testament to both his strength of character and his leadership," Mr Annan said. | |
Wider role | Wider role |
After winning independence from Portugal in 1975 Mozambique suffered a civil war that lasted until 1992. | |
Mr Chissano was president from 1986 to 2005. He also served as chairman of the African Union in 2003 and 2004, and has worked as a UN envoy. | |
Mr Annan praised Mr Chissano's role at home and more widely in Africa. | Mr Annan praised Mr Chissano's role at home and more widely in Africa. |
"His decision not to seek a third presidential term reinforced Mozambique's democratic maturity and demonstrated that institutions and the democratic process were more important than personalities," he said. | "His decision not to seek a third presidential term reinforced Mozambique's democratic maturity and demonstrated that institutions and the democratic process were more important than personalities," he said. |
"He was a powerful voice for Africa on the international stage and played an important role in pushing debt relief up the agenda." | "He was a powerful voice for Africa on the international stage and played an important role in pushing debt relief up the agenda." |
Mr Chissano is something as a rarity in Africa as a leader who has left office with his reputation intact, says BBC southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles. | Mr Chissano is something as a rarity in Africa as a leader who has left office with his reputation intact, says BBC southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles. |
His son, however, faced allegations - strongly denied by him - that he was linked to the murder of a Mozambican journalist, Carlos Cardoso. The BBC's Martin Plaut asked Mr Annan if this had given the judges pause for thought. | |
"We discussed all that. There was a judicial process and Chissano said himself that justice must be done. And there was no evidence that he had tried to block it," Mr Annan said. | |
"You cannot blame him for something his son is alleged to have done - his mature son." | |
The panel of judges also included former Irish President, Mary Robinson, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari and the head of the Organisation of African Unity, Salim Ahmed Sali. | |
They assessed the relative merits of 13 African former heads of state, all of whom left power in the past three years. | They assessed the relative merits of 13 African former heads of state, all of whom left power in the past three years. |
Among these at least six took power by staging coups. | Among these at least six took power by staging coups. |