Oct 19, 2009, 11:46 GMT
London - There will be no winner this year of the 5-million- dollar Ibrahim Prize, usually awarded to an African leader for good governance, the Sudanese telecoms magnate Mo Ibrahim announced Monday.
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki and Ghana's ex- president John Kufuor had been seen as favourites for this year's award. The prize is only given to democratically-elected leaders in sub-Saharan African countries after they have left office.
Ibrahim did not give a reason for no prize being awarded, but said there was 'no disrespect' intended, and that he had always planned that there be years when no prize was given.
In 2008 former Botswanan president Festus Gontebanye Mogae won the award for his leadership in the face of the HIV/Aids epidemic.
Ibrahim is the businessman behind one of Africa's most successful telecommunications networks, Celtel, and in 2008 was named Britain's most influential black person.
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