During his ten years as President, Niger has made progress in multiple areas, including improving in all four sub-categories of Human Development. Niger is one of the African countries that has best managed to reduce child and maternal mortality. It is also among the ten most improved countries in strengthening socioeconomic opportunities for women.
THE Mo Ibrahim Foundation has announced President of Niger Republic, Mahamadou Issoufou, the winner of 2020 Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. The announcement was made following a meeting of the Foundation’s independent Prize Committee on Monday.
President Issoufou, born 1952, is serving a second five-year term in office which is due to lapse next month, April 7, 2021. He has been the president of Niger since 7th April, 2011, when he was sworn in for his first five-year tenure. He is the sixth recipient of the Mo Ibrahim Prize.
President Issoufou’s departure and handover will be the first-ever peaceful transition of power between two elected leaders in Niger, which has had four coups since it won independence from France in 1960.
Niger held a run-off presidential election on February 21 after no candidate was granted a majority of the vote in last year’s December 27 election. Mohamed Bazoum, a former interior and foreign affairs minister, of the ruling Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism, who eventually won the runoff, will succeed President Issoufou on 7th April to mark the historic fit.
The Mo Ibrahim Prize recognises and celebrates excellence in African leadership, and aims to distinguish exceptional leaders whose governance helped developed their countries, strengthened democracy and protected rule of law for the shared benefit of their people.
In the citation for the award to Issoufou, the Prize Committee eulogised his exceptional leadership after inheriting one of the world’s poorest economies, facing seemingly insurmountable challenges.
According to the Committee, Issoufou used his time in office to foster economic growth, show unwavering commitment to regional stability and to the constitution, and championed African democracy.
Announcing the decision, Festus Mogae, Chair of the Prize Committee and former President of Botswana said: “In the face of the most severe political and economic issues, including violent extremism and increasing desertification, President Mahamadou Issoufou has led his people on a path of progress. Today, the number of Nigeriens living below the poverty line has fallen to 40%, from 48% a decade ago. While challenges remain, Issoufou has kept his promises to the Nigerien people and paved the way for a better future. After careful consideration, the Committee finds President Issoufou a worthy winner of the Ibrahim Prize.”
The citation from the Prize Committee reads:
“President of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, is the recipient of the 2020 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership.
“After careful consideration, the Prize Committee of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation found that, confronted with unprecedented national and regional challenges, President Issoufou demonstrated exceptional leadership.
“President Issoufou has made history in Niger. He stepped down after two five-year presidential terms in office, demonstrating his clear respect for the constitution and his conviction that the rule of law must come first. His decision paves the way for the country’s first-ever democratic transition of power – a milestone in a country that has experienced four political coups since gaining independence in 1960.
“President Issoufou was first democratically elected President in 2011, following many years of military rule in Niger. He inherited one of the world’s poorest economies facing a seemingly insurmountable combination of challenges.
Land-locked Niger had been ravaged by extreme food shortages following a severe drought. Acute malnutrition was rampant. Rising levels of regional terrorism and criminality, weak institutions, accelerating population growth and increasing desertification intensified levels of unrest and insecurity.
“President Issoufou confronted this complex matrix of issues with commitment and courage.
“Throughout his time in office, he has kept Niger on a steady path of progress. The proportion of Nigeriens living below the poverty line has fallen to 40%, from 48% a decade ago.
“Between 2011 and 2019, Niger’s GDP grew from $8.7 billion to $12.9 billion, leading to 16.1% growth of GDP per capita. This was driven in part by President Issoufou’s transformative infrastructure agenda, including hospitals, universities and an international airport. As a champion for the African Continental Free Trade Area, he helped to promote economic integration across the continent.
“In the face of increasing violent extremism, President Issoufou proved his steadfast political will. He brought the voice of the Sahel to the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member, and played a leading role in strengthening regional and international cooperation around this fragile region.
“Data from the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) underline President Issoufou’s achievements.
“During his ten years as President, Niger has made progress in multiple areas, including improving in all four sub-categories of Human Development. Niger is one of the African countries that has best managed to reduce child and maternal mortality. It is also among the ten most improved countries in strengthening socioeconomic opportunities for women.
“Of course, challenges remain. Niger’s recent declines in the IIAG in Safety & Security and in Participation highlight the serious obstacles confronting the country’s sustained progress.
“Nevertheless, President Issoufou has laid firm foundations on which Niger can now build, while continuing to play vital roles in improving regional stability and strengthening economic integration.
“Above all, President Issoufou has championed African democracy and respect for constitutional rule, in Niger and across the continent. His example shows that those who lead, whatever the challenges, can do so with the greatest reverence for both the citizens they serve and the rule of law.”
