Former Cape Verde president wins Mo Ibrahim award

The veteran leader who retired as president in September after serving two terms will receive the prize at a ceremony in Tunis, Tunisia on 12 November  2011. Established to recognise and celebrate excellence in African leadership, the Ibrahim

Prize is an annual US$5 million award paid over 10 years and US$200,000 annually for life thereafter. The foundation will consider granting a further US$200,000 per year for 10 years towards public interest  activities and good causes espoused by the laureate.  Announcing the 2011 Ibrahim Laureate, Salim Ahmed Salim, the chair of the Prize Committee, said: "The Prize Committee has been greatly impressed by president Pedro Pires's vision in transforming Cape  Verde into a model of democracy, stability and increased prosperity. Under his 10 years as president, the nation became only the second African country to graduate from the United Nation's Least Developed.