The Mo Ibrahim Foundation reviewed, in its latest report, governance trends in Africa from 2014 to 2023. A total of 33 countries improved, while 21 saw declines, the foundation revealed, emphasizing the need for more reliable data to help strengthen public policy.
More than 77% of Africa’s population lives in countries where security and democracy have worsened over the past decade, according to the “2024 Ibrahim Index of African Governance” released on October 23. This decline is driven by a rise in conflicts, coups, and authoritarian trends, particularly in the Sahel and East Africa.
The report highlights that challenges have slowed overall governance progress in Africa after a period of steady improvement. From 2014 to 2023, twenty-one countries, home to nearly half of the continent’s population, experienced a drop in governance. The report points to particularly poor performances in Comoros and Tunisia.
“For almost half of the continent’s population, overall governance performance is worse in 2023 than it was in 2014. The main driver of this decline is a deepening security crisis and shrinking participatory environment almost all over the continent,” the report states. It also notes that this trend is not unique to Africa.
“Escalating conflicts and deepening mistrust in democratic institutions are not specific to Africa: we see them right around the world. But it is specifically concerning in Africa because it threatens the progress we achieved in economic and social development, as well as the progress yet to build,” the document adds.
In 2023, Africa’s average governance score was 49.3 out of 100. While this marks a slow approach toward the 50/100 mark, the report notes this is only a marginal one-point increase from 2014.
Despite the overall stagnation, some countries have made significant strides. Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Seychelles, Angola, and Benin all saw notable improvements in their governance over the last decade. In total, 33 countries, representing 52.1% of Africa’s population, recorded better governance, thanks in part to progress in areas like infrastructure and gender equality.
The report also highlights Seychelles as the new leader in African governance, surpassing Mauritius. Alongside Sierra Leone, Seychelles is one of the few countries to have improved in all 16 subcategories of the Mo Ibrahim Index over the past ten years.