Africa governance prize goes unawarded

LONDON, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- A recognition given out for good governance in Africa has gone unawarded this year, Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership organizers say.

Named after Mo Ibrahim, the Sudanese-born mobile phone tycoon, the $5 million prize is meant to recognize the accomplishments of African leaders who have stepped down from office in the previous three years, but that eliminates most African nations from contention, The Times of London reported Tuesday.

"The prize committee welcomed the progress made on governance in some African countries while noting with concern recent setbacks in other countries," said a statement from the London-based Ibrahim panel. "This year the prize committee has considered some eligible candidates. However, after in-depth review the committee could not select a winner."

The newspaper said some of favorites for this year's award included such former presidents as South Africa's Thabo Mbeki, Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo and Ghana's John Kufuor, but none got the nod.

One of the difficulties with the Ibrahim award's selection process is that many of Africa's rulers have been in power for decades, The Times said.