Overall governance performance in Africa declined in 2019, the first time in a decade, according to the Index of African Governance produced by the Mo Ibrahim foundation.
It reported a general decline in citizens’ participation, human rights, rule of law and security on the continent – which were worsened by the impact of Covid-19.
Last year’s score on governance fell by 0.2 points below that of 2018 but progress has been slowing since 2015.
The 2020 Ibrahim Index of African Governance shows how governance progress in Africa has slowed since 2015. Deterioration in participation, rights, rule of law & security threaten improvements in economic opportunities & human development. What else can the #IIAG tell us?👇🏿 pic.twitter.com/dh4eaTYfBl
— Mo Ibrahim Foundation (@Mo_IbrahimFdn) November 16, 2020
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Over the last decade, governance dimensions have followed diverging paths. Only eight countries managed to improve in all four categories over the decade: Angola, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Seychelles, Sudan and Togo. #IIAG pic.twitter.com/DHU08zJ14P
— Mo Ibrahim Foundation (@Mo_IbrahimFdn) November 16, 2020
“This is a testing time for Africa…Citizens’ dissatisfaction and mistrust with governance delivery are growing. African states have an opportunity to demonstrate both their resolve to safeguard democracy and their ability to drive a new growth model,” said the foundation’s chair Mo Ibrahim.
Nevertheless, the researchers found that a majority of Africans live in a country where governance is better than it was a decade ago.