“This year the Prize Committee has considered some credible candidates. However, after in-depth review, the Prize Committee could not select a winner,” a press release by the Foundation said.

The prize on offer for this year’s lucky winner was worth US$5,000,000 over ten years and US$200 000 a year for life. A further US$200 000 a year, for ten years, is also available for public interest activities and good causes espoused by the winner.

“The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is committed to supporting great African leadership that will improve the economic and social prospects of the people of Africa. The Foundation’s focus is the promotion of good governance in Africa and the recognition of excellence in African leadership,” the Foundation said in a press release.

The Prize Committee welcomed the progress made on governance in some African countries while noting with concern recent setbacks in other countries.
“The Prize Committee is independent of the Board. It is the Prize Committee’s decision not to award a Prize this year and we entirely respect it. We made clear at the launch of the Foundation that there may be years when there is no winner,” Mo Ibrahim, the founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, said.

The release said: “This Foundation was established to stimulate debate around, and improve the quality of, African governance. Although there is much focus on the prize, the Foundation is engaged in many other activities to help improve governance.

“Central to these is the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, which the Foundation published earlier this month, which gives powerful information to all citizens about the performance of their countries.”