The Mo Ibrahim Foundation has launched the 2020 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) report, which highlights a decline in African governance performance for the first time since 2010.

Findings reveal that the 2019 African average score for overall governance fell -0.2 points.

This recent decline is triggered by worsening performance in three of the four IIAG categories: security and rule of law, participation, rights and inclusion, foundations for economic opportunity, and human development.

According to the report, progress had already been slowing down since 2015. But over the decade, overall governance performance has slightly progressed.

‘Deteriorating over the decade, Participation, Rights & Inclusion worsened its decline since 2015, while Security & Rule of Law continued deteriorating albeit at a slower pace. Meanwhile, Foundations for Economic Opportunity and Human Development, despite continuing to improve, have done so at a slower pace’, the report noted.

‘This concerning trend has paved the way for the first year-on-year decline (-0.2 in 2019 compared to 2018) in the African average score for Overall Governance since 2010, after having improved or remained constant year-on-year until 2018′.

On the findings, Chairman of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Mo Ibrahim, said, ‘This is a testing time for Africa. Pre-existing weaknesses and challenges in African governance, as uncovered by the 2020 IIAG, are exacerbated by Covid-19, which also threatens economic progress.

‘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 that is more resilient, more equitable, more sustainable, and more self-reliant’.

Source: Mo Ibrahim Foundation

Photo source: Paul Kagame