Former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano has won the first Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African leadership.
The $5 million prize, which is the world's largest individual award of its kind, was presented by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan at a ceremony in London this morning.
As well as the $5m, which is paid out over 10 years, Mr Chissano will receive another $200,000 a year for life and $200,000 annually for good causes. This compares to $1.5m for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Mo Ibrahim, a Sudanese-born telecommunications entrepreneur, set up the award as a way of encouraging good governance in a continent blighted by corruption and a frequently loose adherence to democratic principles.
Former president and ex UN High Commmissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson was on the committee that chose the winner.
Mr Chissano was not in London to receive the award.
The 58-year-old former revolutionary fought against Portuguese colonialism and ruled Mozambique from 1986 until 2005, winning praise for his sound economic policies in a southern African state that was once one of the poorest in the world.
He also won acclaim for stepping aside after 18 years in power when he could have stood for a further five-year term, saying his decision would create political space for democracy to thrive.
Since leaving office Mr Chissano has been a special envoy for the United Nations, working on resolving conflict in northern Uganda.
However he has also received criticism for his close friendship with Robert Mugabe.
Mr Chissano was best man at Mr Mugabe's wedding, and his links with the Zimbabwean president date from Mugabe's time in Mozambique during Harare's struggle against British rule.
