African governance improves slightly over the past decade, new Ibrahim Index finds

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation released the 2026 Ibrahim Index of African Governance on Saturday, 31 October, at a launch in Cairo, Egypt. The index measures government performance across all 54 African countries over the decade from 2016 to 2025, using 96 indicators from 51 sources in four areas: security and the rule of law; participation and rights; economic opportunity; and human development.

Overall governance improved over the decade, despite COVID, the war in Ukraine and falls in development aid. But the foundation stresses the gains are uneven and fragile. Economic opportunity improved in 44 countries, home to 68% of the continent’s people. Infrastructure was the most improved area, better in 52 countries — all except Nigeria and Gambia — covering 84% of Africa’s population. Education improved in 34 countries and health in 40.

The weaker side is security and participation. Security and the rule of law got worse in 34 countries, home to 78% of Africans, while participation and rights declined in 31 countries, covering 60% of the population. The slide in security has slowed since 2022, with progress in 27 countries. And 25 countries, home to almost 47% of Africans, still grew economically even as security worsened.

Seychelles ranked first overall in 2025, and Morocco replaced Tunisia in the top ten. South Africa stayed fifth, but its scores kept getting worse, as did governance in Nigeria, DR Congo and Sudan. At the bottom, Libya and Guinea-Bissau replaced Angola and Congo Republic in the lowest ten. Mo Ibrahim, the foundation’s founder, said economic and social gains “will not last” without progress in security, rule of law and participation.

Why it matters

The index is a widely used yardstick for how African governments are doing, and its message is mixed. Daily life has improved in many places — better power, phones and schools — but safety, courts and democratic freedoms have gone backwards in much of the continent. Countries can still grow while security worsens, but the foundation warns this cannot last.

What happens next

The full 2026 index data is now published, for governments, donors and investors to judge where progress is real and where it is slipping. The index comes out every two years; the next edition is due in 2028.

This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.

Sources

• https://theheraldghana.com/2026-ibrahim-index-slight-progress-in-african-governance-over-the-past-decade-driven-by-gains-in-economic-and-human-developments/ (The Herald, 31 October 2026)
• https://auc-connect.aucegypt.edu/publicev/rsvp_boot?id=300123739 (American University in Cairo, 31 October 2026)