Africa’s progress in human and economic development has slowed against a backdrop of “widespread democratic backsliding” and worsening security over the past three years, an African foundation said Wednesday.
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation says there has been a “marginal improvement” in good governance in Africa since 2012, but the trend has “flatlined” since 2019.
The election was cancelled
“Improved human development and economic fundamentals are undermined by an increasingly dangerous security situation and widespread democratic backsliding,” according to Ibrahim’s 2022 African Governance Index.
The tendency has been strengthened by the struggle with external challenges such as the Covid pandemic and the climate crisis, he said.
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“Governments are increasingly vulnerable to rights violations, hindering freedom of expression and association, and imposing restrictions on civil space,” he said.
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He said the trend was “accelerating” when elections were canceled in many places and the government used Covid as “an excuse to suppress dissent.”
But the index says that more than 90 percent of the continent now lives in countries where human development – health, education, social protection and other criteria – is higher than in 2012.
Good governance
The top five countries in good governance are Mauritius, Seychelles, Tunisia, Cape Verde and Botswana.
South Sudan is in last place behind Somalia and Eritrea.
He also said that Gambia, Seychelles and several other countries “steal the continental trend,” and cited the increase in the number of women.
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“In 42 African countries, women see greater equality in the political and socioeconomic spheres than in 2012,” he said.