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2008 Ibrahim Index of African Governance
Africa's small island states are the best governed on the
continent, according to an annual study released on Thursday by Harvard
researchers, who said economic powerhouse South Africa has slipped in its rankings.
Mauritius, Seychelles and Cape Verde were Africa's best-governed
countries, according to Harvard University's Kennedy School of
Government. Chad, Sudan and Somalia came in at the bottom of the
list, which has been published since 2007.
The index included North African countries for the first
time, with Tunisia and Algeria landing in the top 10, boosted by their relative
wealth.
"Tunisia, for instance, has an appalling human rights
record, but rates so well in terms of human
development, economic opportunity, and security that those scores compensate for appropriately low results in the regard for human rights
area," the study said.
"South Africa has slipped a little, from fifth to
ninth, largely because of its lower scores in the areas of respect for civil and political rights and the rule of
law," it said.
The report used data from 2007, the most complete figures
available, meaning this year's study leaves out recent turmoil in Mauritania and Guinea as well as Zimbabwe's economic meltdown and election
violence.
Zimbabwe ranked 45 out of the 53 nations surveyed. Top oil producers Angola and Nigeria landed at 46 and 38.
The first two editions of the study were financed by the Mo Ibrahim
Foundation, created by a wealthy Sudanese-born British telecom magnate with the aim of fostering good governance on the continent and attracting more
investment.
The foundation still grants an award for African leadership aimed at encouraging good governance at the highest
level. The prize money is around three times that granted by the Nobel
jury.
To get more information on the study please go to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s Web site and have access to the pdf files on the following
link:
http://site.moibrahimfoundation.org/index-2008/mediacentre/06_10_2008.asp
Copyright © 2009 AFP
October 2009
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