Former Liberian President wins Mo Ibrahim prize for African leadership

Former Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf on Monday became the first woman to win the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, in recognition of her efforts to rebuild her country following two devastating civil wars.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Johnson-Sirleaf became president in 2006, three years after the second civil war had ended, and was re-elected for a second term in 2011.

“Ellen 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,” Salim Ahmed Salim, chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s prize committee, said.

The foundation said Liberia was the only country out of 54 to improve in every category and sub-category of the foundation’s Index of African…