During the period 2011-14, the African average overall governance score in the IIAG increased only slightly by +0.2 points to 50.1 (out of 100.0), with considerable changes in performance during the last four years at all levels of the Index, both at country and at category level.
Published annually, the IIAG provides a comprehensive assessment of governance performance for each of the 54 African countries.
The 2015 IIAG released on Monday, consisted of 93 indicators which fall into four categories: Safety & Rule of Law, Participation & Human Rights, Sustainable Economic Opportunity and Human Development.
Twenty-one (21) countries, including five of the top ten, have deteriorated in overall governance performance since 2011.
Only six countries registered an improvement across each of the four categories of the IIAG; these are Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia and Zimbabwe.
At the regional level, the continental trend in overall governance masks varying performances and a widening range between the regions.
Southern Africa remains the best performing region, with an average score of 58.9, followed by West Africa (52.4), North Africa (51.2) and East Africa (44.3). Central Africa is the lowest ranking region with an average score of 40.9, and is the only region to have deteriorated since 2011.
The marginal improvement in overall governance at the continental level is underpinned by positive performances in only two categories, Human Development (+1.2) and Participation & Human Rights (+0.7). Both Sustainable Economic Opportunity (-0.7) and Safety & Rule of Law (-0.3) have deteriorated.
Mo Ibrahim, Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, said: “While Africans overall are certainly healthier and live in more democratic societies than 15 years ago, the 2015 IIAG shows that recent progress in other key areas on the continent has either stalled or reversed, and that some key countries seem to be faltering.
“This is a warning sign for all of us. Only shared and sustained improvements across all areas of governance will deliver the future that Africans deserve and demand”, he added.
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Source: Graphic Online