The London-based foundation also publishes the Ibrahim Index, ranking 52 African countries according to 88 indicators grouped under safety and the rule of law, participation and human rights, sustainable economic opportunity and human development.
There has been no change in its top five this year – with Mauritius topping the index with a score of 83 out of 100, ahead of Cape Verde (78), Botswana (77), Seychelles (73) and South Africa (71).
Somalia remained at the bottom with a score of seven, behind Democratic Republic of Congo (33), Chad (33), Eritrea (33) and the Central African Republic (34).
Ibrahim said that while there had been major improvements in some sectors, the continent’s main players were lagging behind.
“Between 2000 and 2011 there is a marked improvement in governance across Africa,” he said.
“The major improvements were in health, the rural sector, the economy. The interesting development was in gender. Gender has improved amazingly over the last 10-11 years. The highest improvement in any category in the index.”
However across the data, “the four main powerhouses in Africa – Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya – appear to be really stuttering. They are not showing really convincing progress.
“East Africa is not doing that well. It has been over taken by west Africa in the category of sustainable economic development.
“In general, we see positive development in Africa. The economy is moving forward relentlessly. Education and health is improving, there is great development there. Gender issues are improving.
“We see, unfortunately, a little bit of decline in the issues of human rights and participation. Economic development does not give us a reason to be complacent about that.”
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