Mauritius tops African governance index

Sapa | September 25, 2007

The inaugural annual Ibrahim Index of African Governance, published by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, ranks 48 countries against 58 individual measures.

The foundation uses those measures to rank countries on five factors: safety and security; rule of law, transparency and corruption; participation and human rights; sustainable economic opportunity; and human development.

Mauritius topped the index (86,2), followed by Seychelles (83,1), Botswana (73,0), Cape Verde (72,9) and South Africa (71,1).

The bottom five were Guinea-Bissau (42,7), Sudan (40,0), Chad (38,8), the Democratic Republic of Congo (38,6) and Somalia (28,1).

The foundation was created by Mo Ibrahim, a wealthy Sudanese businessman and the Celtel International telecommunications firm founder, with the index drawn up by experts at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in the United States.

It was established as an African-based project to recognise good leaders – and name and shame the shoddy regimes.

“We are shining a light on governance in Africa, and in so doing we are making a unique contribution to improving the quality of governance,” said Ibrahim.

“The Ibrahim Index is a tool to hold governments to account and frame the debate about how we are governed. Africans are setting benchmarks not only for their own continent, but for the world.”

Compared to aggregate 2000 to 2005 rankings, Rwanda was the biggest riser, up 18 places at 18th, followed by Ethiopia, up 10 places at 27th.

Guinea-Bissau performed the worst, falling down 21 places to 44th, followed by DR Congo, down 12 places at 47th.

Zimbabwe was ranked 31st on 52,0.

The foundation, launched last year, has the backing of former South African president Nelson Mandela, the Ghanaian former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan, former US president Bill Clinton and former British prime minister Tony Blair, among others.

“Mo Ibrahim has a vision to promote and recognise good governance that will drive Africa’s political and economic renaissance,” Mandela said in a statement.

“This is an African initiative celebrating the successes of new African leadership. It sets an example that the rest of the world can emulate.”

The first annual Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, to be awarded on October 22, will land a former head of state or government with a five-million-dollar prize split over 10 years with $200 000 annually for the rest of their lives.

A further $200 000 a year will be made available for good causes espoused by the former leader.

The prize far exceeds the 10-million Swedish kronor (about R10-million) given to recipients of a Nobel Prize.

Top 10 (Ibrahim Index of African Governance):

1. Mauritius 86,2 2. Seychelles 83,1 3. Botswana 73,0 4. Cape Verde 72,9 5. South Africa 71,1 6. Gabon 67,4 7. Namibia 67,0 8. Ghana 66,8 9. Senegal 66,0 10. Sao Tome and Principe 65,3

Bottom 10:

39. Sierra Leone 48,3 40. Burundi 46,8 41. Central African Republic 46,7 42. Angola 44,3 43. Liberia 42,7 44. Guinea-Bissau 42,7 45. Sudan 40,0 46. Chad 38,8 47. DR Congo 38,6 48. Somalia 28,1

– Sapa

SA 5th, Ethiopia 27th

South Africa has ranked fifth in the Ibrahim Index of African governance. The index, compiled by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, is the first of its kind, comprehensively ranking the sub-Saharan countries against each other.

The index, which placed Mauritius as the continent’s forerunner and Somalia worst, measures countries in five major categories: safety and security, participation and human rights, rule of law, transparency and corruption, sustainable economic development and human development. It ranks 48 countries against 58 individual measures.

Mauritius aced the index (86.2), followed by Seychelles (83.1), Botswana (73.0), Cape Verde (72.9) and South Africa (71.1). South Africa also ranked the lowest on safety and security. The poorest performers were Guinea-Bissau (42.7), Sudan (40), Chad (38.8), the Democratic Republic of Congo (38.6) and Somalia (28.1).

Rwanda records biggest improvement

Compared to aggregate 2000 – 2005 rankings, Rwanda was the biggest riser, up 18 places at 18th, followed by Ethiopia, up 10 places at 27th. Guinea-Bissau performed the worst, falling down 21 places to 44th, followed by DRC, down 12 places at 47th.

Speaking at the press briefing, Mampele Rampele, from the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, said this is an African approach to the global issue of governance: “Africa is actually setting a benchmark not only for its own countries, but for the world because no other index does this.”

The foundation was created by Mo Ibrahim, a wealthy Sudanese businessman and Celtel International telecommunications founder. The index is drawn up by experts at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in the US and was launched last year. It has the support of former South African president Nelson Mandela, the Ghanaian former United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan, and former US president, Bill Clinton, among others.

Ramphele says the foundation will also be recognising exceptional leaders on the continent through the prize for achievement of leadership. The prize consists of $5 million over 10 years and $200 000 annually for life. Only former head of states will be eligible and the first winner of this prize will be announced next month. The prize eclipses the 10 million Swedish kronor (about R10 million) given to recipients of a Nobel Prize.