Abdu Labaran Malumfashi With Agency Report
7 October 2008
Governance has improved in nearly two-thirds of sub-Saharan African nations between 2005 and 2006 with Liberia showing the biggest leap in government performance in the period, while Mauritania deteriorated the most, a survey published yesterday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia has shown.
The 2008 Ibrahim Index of African Governance said 31 of 48 sub-Saharan nations recorded higher scores than in last year's survey, with Liberia the best improver.
Mauritius was the best-run country and Somalia the worst.
The survey, which ranked Mauritius, Seychelles, Cape Verde, Botswana and South Africa the best-governed countries on the continent, placed Nigeria as the 39th best-governed country, a slip from its previous 38th position. Kenya's score also dropped and it slipped two places - from 15th to 17th.
Compared to last year's survey, 31 countries improved their governance scores. The five countries which improved the most were, in order of performance, Liberia, Burundi, Uganda, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar.
However, governance deteriorated the most in Mauri-tania, Chad, Somalia, São Tomé and Príncip and Gambia.
"People look at headlines from two or three countries and forget there are 55 countries in Africa and in most of them life is normal," Mo Ibrahim told Reuters during the launch of his foundation's index in Ethiopia.
"Governance performance across a large majority of African countries is improving...I hope these results will be used as a tool by Africa's citizens to hold their governments to account."
Improvements in governance are cited by investors as one reason for unprecedented financial flows to Africa in recent years, along with booming Asian investment, rises in commodity prices and debt relief.
Ibrahim, a Sudanese-born telecommunications entrepreneur, also gives a $5 million leadership prize to African leaders to promote democratic principles and combat corruption. Mozambique's former President Joaquim Chissano won last year.
For the latest index, nations were judged by criteria including economic stability, corruption, security, rights, laws, elections, infrastructure, poverty and health. The index, however, uses data that is two years old.
Mauritius, one of Africa's most stable and prosperous nations, was top with a score of 85.1 out of 100.
It was followed by fellow Indian Ocean nation Seyche-lles, then another island state Cape Verde. Botswana came fourth, and regional economic power-house South Africa was fifth.
Mired in civil conflict since 1991 and without an effective central government, Somalia propped up the index in 48th place with just 18.9 points.
Almost as bad were Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad and Sudan - all affected by conflict too. Best improver Liberia rose five places to 38th, scoring 48.7 points.
Ibrahim foundation board member Mary Robinson, a former president of Ireland, said the 2008 index showed improvements in rights and participation around the continent.
The survey, entitled the "Ibrahim Index of African Governance", which is produced by a team from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in the United States, supported by an advisory council of African academics and corporate leaders, ranks African countries using 57 criteria in five categories: safety and security (assessing the effects of conflict and violent crime); the rule of law, transparency and corruption; participation and human rights (which examines the freedom to vote and respect for press freedom and other rights); sustainable economic opportunity; and human development (which considers poverty levels, health and education provision).
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