Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the former president of Liberia, has been awarded the $5 million Mo Ibrahim prize which recognizes excellence in African leadership.
Johnson Sirleaf stepped down from office last month, the first democratic transition of power in Liberia since 1944. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was Africa's first female elected head of state. She served two six-year terms, but was not eligible to run again for the office, according to Liberia's constitution.
Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, the chair of the prize committee said in announcing the award that Johnson Sirleaf "took the helm of Liberia when it was completely destroyed by civil war and led a process of reconciliation that focused on building a nation and its democratic institutions." He added that "Such a journey cannot be without some shortcomings," but nevertheless Johnson Sirleaf "laid the foundations on which Liberia can now build."
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a former U.S. ambassador to Liberia, said Johnson Sirleaf "left the country in a much better state than she found it," adding there is "still a lot of work to be done."
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation was founded by Sudanese telecom tycoon Mo Ibrahim who said upon learning that Johnson Sirleaf had been awarded the prize: "I am proud to see the first woman Ibrahim Laureate, and I hope Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will continue to inspire women in Africa and beyond."
The $5 million prize is handed out over 10 years with another $200,000 annually throughout the winner's lifetime.
利比里亚前总统埃伦·约翰逊·瑟利夫被授予五百万美元的伊布拉欣奖，以表彰她在非洲的杰出领导作用。
瑟利夫上月卸任，这是1944年以来利比里亚的第一次政权民主过渡。这位诺贝尔和平奖得主是非洲第一位民选女政府首脑。她担任两届总统，每届六年，依据利比里亚宪法，不具备再度竞选连任的资格。
评奖委员会主席萨利姆·艾哈迈德·萨利姆宣布这一奖项时表示，瑟利夫“在利比里亚被内战彻底摧毁时掌管利比里亚，领导了集中建设国家和民主制度的和解过程”。萨利姆还说“这样的过程不可能没有某些缺点”，但是瑟利夫“奠定了利比里亚如今可以发展的基础”。
前美国驻利比里亚大使琳达·托马斯-格林菲尔德说，瑟利夫“留下的国家，比她接管时的情况好了很多”，并说“任重道远”。
伊布拉欣獎基金会是苏丹电信大王莫·伊布拉欣设立的，他在得知瑟利夫获奖时表示：“很高兴看到第一位女性伊布拉欣奖得主，希望瑟利夫继续鼓舞非洲和其他地方的妇女。”
五百万美元奖金将分十年授予，另有每年20万美元得奖者可终生获得。