Namibian President won the world’s most valuable individual award

The outgoing Namibian president, Mr. Hifikepunye Pohamba, has won the world’s most valuable individual award, the Mo Ibrahim prize for African leadership. The 5 million dollars award is given each year to an elected leader who governed well, raised living standards and then left office. But the previous award was the fourth in five years to have gone unclaimed.


Mr Pohamba, a former rebel who fought for his country's independence, has served two terms as Namibian president. He was first elected in 2004, and again in 2009 and due to be succeeded by president-elect, Hage Geingob. Mr Pohamba was a founding member of the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), an armed movement that waged a decade-long campaign against South African rule.