Nairobi -
Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba has won the 2014 Ibrahim Prize for African leadership, the first African leader deemed worthy of the honour since 2011.
The $5 million prize, announced on Monday in Nairobi, is for democratically elected African leaders who excel in governance and who step down from office at the end of their terms.
Pohamba is still serving as Namibia's president until the newly elected president is inaugurated on March 21.
“During the decade of Hifikepunye Pohamba's presidency, Namibia's reputation has been cemented as a well-governed, stable and inclusive democracy with strong media freedom and respect for human rights,” said prize committee chairman Salim Ahmed Salim.
The annual prize was first given in 2007 but for four years - 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013 - no African leader was found to meet the prize requirements.
Previous prize winners were Presidents Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique in 2007, Festus Mogae of Botswana in 2008 and Pedro Pires of Cabo Verde in 2011.
Nelson Mandela was named the inaugural honorary laureate in 2007.
Sapa-AP