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Mrs
Sirleaf is the first woman Ibrahim Laureate GETTY IMAGES
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Liberia's ex-president,
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has won the US$5m (£3.6m) Ibrahim prize for African
Leadership.
BBC
News report continues:
Mrs
Sirleaf, who stepped down last month, became Africa's first elected female
president in 2006.
She was praised for her work rebuilding the nation after civil war and
leading a process of reconciliation.
The
prize committee admitted that while Ms Sirleaf was accused of tolerating
corruption, she had shown exceptional leadership in difficult circumstances.
It
added that Liberia was the only country out of 54 to improve in every category
and sub-category of the Ibrahim Index of African Governance.
Mrs
Sirleaf served two terms as president, but could not run again in recent polls,
which were won by former footballer George Weah.
Her
own party has expelled her, alleging she had campaigned for Mr Weah rather than
her party's candidate.
She
is the fifth recipient of the prize since 2007, which celebrates African
leaders who governed well, raised living standards and then left office.
The
US$5m prize is spread over 10 years and is followed by US$200,000 a year for
life.
But
it is not always awarded. On six occasions, no leader was considered worthy of
it.
Ibrahim
prize timeline:
2007: Mozambique's
former President Joaquim Chissano
2008: Botswana's
former President Festus Mogae
2009: No
award given
2010: No
award given
2011: Cape
Verde's former President Pedro Verona Pires
2012: No
award given
2013: No
award given
2014: Namibia's
former President Hifikipunye Pohamba
2015: No
award given
2016: No
award given
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