Africa's cell-phone king and a leading voice for democracy. When Ibrahim started a mobile-phone company in 1998 to work exclusively in Africa, there were just 2 million cell phones on the continent. When he sold it seven years later, there were more than 100 million. A British national with roots in Sudan, Ibrahim never lost faith in his native Africa. To pursue his vision of a better Africa he set up a foundation in his name to rate countries on their quality of governance. The annual country index shames governments into bettering their ratings and provides a picture of the continent's institutions to non-Africans. The inaugural Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership rewards respect for democratic institutions.