Niger’s President, Mahamadou Issoufou, has being declared the winner of the Mo Ibrahim prize, Africa’s top prize for leadership.

He was awarded the prize for facing “seemingly insurmountable challenges”, ranging from deep poverty to jihadism and desertification.

Despite these enduring problems, “Issoufou has led his people on a path of progress”, said a statement by award committee chairman, Festus Mogae. Mr Mogae is the former President of Botswana.

“Today, the number of Nigeriens living below the poverty line has fallen to 40 per cent, from 48 per cent a decade ago. While challenges remain, President Issoufou has kept his promises to the Nigerien people and paved the way for a better future.”
Statement by award committee

President Issoufou, 68, is stepping down next month after 10 years in office. His decision to step down after two terms has enabled Niger to have the first democratic transition between elected leaders since it became independent from France more than 60 years ago.

Officials are commending him for a decision which they say, contrasts with that of some other countries in West Africa. Over the past few years, Presidents in countries including Ivory Coast and Guinea have overseen constitutional changes enabling them to extend their time in office. This often comes at the cost of violent protests.

Issoufou’s preferred successor and right-hand man, Mohamed Bazoum, won last month’s election runoff making him President-elect. The opposition contested the results leading to violence in the capital Niamey, which claimed two lives.

The Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement

The Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership is based on principles of sound government, respect for term limits and democratic elections. It is handed out by a foundation, set up by British-Sudanese telecoms tycoon Mo Ibrahim, since 2007.

President Issoufou is the sixth recipient of the prize. It has not been awarded in some years because of a lack of a suitable winner.

Past winners include former Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and South African apartheid fighter and former President Nelson Mandela. The duo are also Nobel Peace laureates.

Winners receive $5 million spread over 10 years, and then a life endowment of $200,000 for the rest of their lives.

In a statement on Twitter, President Issoufou thanked the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. He said he considered the award an “encouragement to continue to think and act to promote democratic values and good governance, not only in Niger but also in Africa and throughout the world”.

According to UN’s benchmark of human development, Niger is the world’s poorest nation and is struggling with soaring population growth.

It is also fighting two jihadist insurgencies that have forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. In January, jihadists killed 100 people in one of the “deadliest days in the country’s history.”