The London-based Mo Ibrahim Foundation has announced Mahamadou Issoufou, former president of Niger, as the winner of the 2020 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership.

Established in 2007 by Ibrahim, a Sudanese-British billionaire, the award recognizes a democratically elected African head of state who has left office within the last three years, served his/her mandated term, and demonstrated exceptional leadership in surmounting development challenges and paving the way for sustainable and equitable prosperity. Recipients of the prize, which was last awarded in 2017, receive $5 million over ten years.

Issoufou served two five-year terms as president of Niger from 2011 to 2020. According to the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, during Issoufou's tenure, Niger saw progress in multiple areas, including improvements in all four sub-categories of human development — health, education, social protection, and sustainable environment. As of 2020 Niger ranked twenty-eighth out of fifty-four countries assessed in the index and was among the ten most improved African countries in strengthening socioeconomic opportunities for women.

"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," said former Botswanan president Festus Mogae, who chairs the prize committee. "Today, the number of Nigeriens living below the poverty line has fallen to 40 percent, from 48 percent a decade ago. While challenges remain, Issoufou has kept his promises to the Nigerien people and paved the way for a better future."