Mobile phones play a really wonderful role in enabling civil society. As well as empowering people economically and socially, they are a wonderful political tool. – Mo Ibrahim
For citizens to become fully engaged in holding their leadership to account, accurate information is required to see where action is needed, to measure the results of policies and programmes, to build support for courageous decisions and to consolidate political legitimacy. – Mo Ibrahim
Remember, 2000 was the year of the dot-com bust. The telecom industry lost about $2 trillion in market capital at that time. – Mo Ibrahim
The U.S. has been a great friend all these years, but as soon as Africa found itself starting to move up, the U.S. is really disengaging. – Mo Ibrahim
If we are to build grassroots respect for the institutions and processes that constitute democracy, the state must treat its citizens as real citizens rather than as subjects. – Mo Ibrahim
Of course, Nelson Mandela, everybody knows Nelson Mandela. I mean, he’s a great gift not only for Africa but for the whole world, actually. But do not expect everybody to be a Nelson Mandela. – Mo Ibrahim
Africa is underpopulated. We have 20% of the world’s landmass and 13% of its population. – Mo Ibrahim
In a world of growing food demand, Africa is home to two-thirds of the world’s unexploited arable land. – Mo Ibrahim
When you ask people what they think of Africa, they think of AIDS, genocide, disasters, famine. – Mo Ibrahim
If economic progress is not translated into better quality of life and respect for citizens’ rights, we will witness more Tahrir Squares in Africa. – Mo Ibrahim
It is very difficult for any dictator or any incumbent to falsify the results of an election and just get away with it. – Mo Ibrahim
Nobody messes with China, nobody messes with the United States, or with Europe, because these are really big entities with a lot of clout and a lot of economic power. They have a place at the table. – Mo Ibrahim
Far from being hopeless, Africa is full of hope and potential, maybe more so than any other continent. The challenge is to ensure that its potential is utilised. – Mo Ibrahim
The Ibrahim Index is a tool to hold governments to account and frame the debate about how we are governed. – Mo Ibrahim
A narrative that branded Africa as little more than an economic, political and social basket case was not likely to provide the investment needed to drive development. – Mo Ibrahim
The issue with international institutions is that there is a crisis of legitimacy. Trust in these institutions is a serious problem. – Mo Ibrahim
I came to the conclusion that unless you are ruled properly, you cannot move forward. Everything else is second. Everything. – Mo Ibrahim
Business people get many undeserved prizes – golden parachutes and bonuses even when companies fail. I don’t think people should get rewarded for screwing up. – Mo Ibrahim
Compared to developed countries, or even to some major emerging countries, burdened by aging populations, financial crises, widening budget deficits, faltering faith in politics and growing social demands, Africa has become the world’s last ‘New Frontier:’ a kind of ‘it-continent.’ – Mo Ibrahim
I don’t even have a small boat. I don’t even have a toy boat in my bathtub. I don’t have a biplane, I don’t have anything. Those things are toys, and I don’t need them to be happy. – Mo Ibrahim
