Alexandria, Egypt – Festus Mogae, the former president of Botswana, tonight accepted the 2008 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership in a ceremony at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

The Ibrahim Prize recognises and celebrates excellence in African leadership. The largest annually awarded prize in the world, the Ibrahim Prize consists of:

• US$5 million over 10 years and US$200,000 annually for life thereafter for the winner
• A further US$200,000 per year, for 10 years, towards public interest activities and good causes espoused by the winner