Leader wins $5m prize for leaving office
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A $5m prize for good African governance has been awarded to the former President of Cape Verde. Pedro Verona Pires was cited for turning the Atlantic archipelago into a model of democracy, stability and prosperity.
The Mo Ibrahim prize, founded by a Sudanese billionaire, is supposed to be awarded each year to an elected leader who has voluntarily left office, but for the past two years no winner could be found.
In citing Pires, the committee that included Nobel peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei of Egypt and former Ibrahim prize winner Festus Mogae of Botswana said the Cape Verde leader, at the end of his second term, dismissed suggestions the constitution be changed to allow him to run again.
Pires said he was "proud" to receive the prize.
"It is recognition of my 50 years of wholesale and exclusive dedication to politics and the causes of independence and democracy," Pires told Portuguese news agency Lusa in Cidade da Praia, Cape Verde's capital, where he was exercising at his local gym.
Pires, 77, retired from political life last month so he could write his memoirs, according to Lusa.
AP
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments