A carrot for those African leaders too eager to use the stick

An Egyptian businessman has set up a prize for African leaders who promote democracy in their countries and relinquish their power peacefully at the end of their tenure, instead of becoming dictators and brutalize the population in order not to lose their grip on money and power:

A $5m prize for Africa's most effective head of state is being launched by one of the continent's top businessmen.

UK-based mobile phone entrepreneur Mo Ibrahim - who was born in Egypt - is behind the plan to rate governance in 53 African countries each year.

The contest, launched in London, will award winning leaders $5m (£2.7m) over 10 years when they leave office, plus $200,000 (£107,000) a year for life.

"We need to remove corruption and improve governance," Mr Ibrahim said.
[...]
The award will go to African heads of state who deliver security, health, education and economic development to their constituents.

In an interview with the Financial Times newspaper, Mr Ibrahim, 60, said leaders had no life after office.

"Suddenly all the mansions, cars, food, wine is withdrawn. Some find it difficult to rent a house in the capital. That incites corruption; it incites people to cling to power.

"The prize will offer essentially good people, who may be wavering, the chance to opt for the good life after office," said Mr Ibrahim.
[...]
It will be available only to a president who democratically transfers power to his successor.

Harvard University will assess how well the president has served his or her people while in office.

I think this is a really smart idea. I never realized how gloomy an outlook on their future these African leaders must have. These guys get to live cushy lives in countries where everyone else struggles to make ends meet, so how inclined can they be to leave mansions, food, and money and join their countrymen on the other side of the golden gates? Very little I guess.

And if you think about it, it's not that different from any other democracy in the world. In Italy, for instance, former Presidents becomes Senators for Life, a position that allows them to still live a lifestyle they're accustomed to. In the US, the President (like anyone ever elected to Congress, and this is shocking) gets a pension for the rest of his life and gets to keep his security detail and even his clearance, allowing him to receive daily CIA briefings. In the comfort of his home.

I hope Mr. Ibrahim is successful and the situation gets better in Africa. They need it more than any other continent in the world, that's for sure.