Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

Mr Chissano, who brought Mozambique from a bloody civil war to peace during his 19 year office, received the prize awarded by mobile phone millionaire Mo Ibrahim on 22 October 2007.

Having been present in Mozambique for several years with programmes to support the still young multiparty democracy NIMD has been a first hand witness in Chissano’s efforts in steering the country in a delicate phase of its post war history.

“As the democratic wave spreads happily through the great continent of Africa, this award places the spotlights on his personal work, for which he deserves all recognition,” says NIMD Executive Director Roel von Meijenfeldt. “It also sends the right signal to all those leaders of today and tomorrow in Africa that it is possible to provide good leadership while altogether promoting good governance, economic progress and a system cultivating open democratic practices and values.”

The prize is worth 5 million dollar over 10 years, and then 200.000 dollar a year.