Mo Ibrahim Foundation - The Ibrahim Index of African Governance

The Ibrahim Index of African Governance

The Ibrahim Index is an annual assessment of African countries based on the quality of their governance. It aims to provide a tool for citizens to assess progress in their country and hold their governments to account. Countries are graded on factors which fall into four main areas: Safety and Rule of Law, Participation and Human Rights, Sustainable Economic Opportunity and Human Development. It was first published in 2007 in partnership with Kennedy School of Government Professor Robert I. Rotberg and ranked the performance of the 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The Index is now compiled under the auspices of African academics and researchers, whose work is supported by a number of major African governance institutions. In 2009, the Index included all 53 African countries for the first time, including those in North Africa.

• 2007 Index: Mauritius, the Seychelles, and Botswana were ranked first, second and third, while Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Somalia held the third lowest, second lowest and lowest places respectively. Ibrahim's home country, Sudan, ranked fourth lowest. The Economist noted that small island countries seemed to do better than their counterparts on the mainland.

• 2008 Index: Mauritius, the Seychelles and Cape Verde were ranked first, second and third, while Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Somalia held the third lowest, second lowest and lowest places respectively. The 2008 Index found that two thirds of sub-Saharan African countries saw an improvement in governance.

• 2009 Index: Mauritius, Cape Verde and the Seychelles were ranked first, second and third, while Zimbabwe, Chad and Somalia held the third lowest, second lowest and lowest places respectively. The 2009 Index found that Southern Africa was outpacing North Africa in governance performance.

• 2010 Index: Mauritius, the Seychelles and Botswana were ranked first, second and third, while Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia held the third lowest, second lowest and lowest places respectively. The 2010 Index showed overall improvements human and economic development but declines in political rights, personal safety and the rule of law.

• 2011 Index: Mauritius, Cape Verde and Botswana were ranked first, second and third, while Zimbabwe, Chad and Somalia held the third lowest, second lowest and lowest places respectively. The 2011 Index illustrated that countries that pursue a balanced approach to all dimensions of governance achieve the most success.