By Jennifer M. Haralambides
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa
CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Mo Ibrahim, a Sudanese born telecommunications entrepreneur, who is promoting leadership in Africa, launched his foundation’s 2009 Index of African Governance, which has tracked development on the continent.
The foundation released its third annual report on leadership in Africa, and for the first time it covers all 53 African countries. The rankings are based on a number of indicators including security, crime, corruption, health, and education. The four main categories the index uses to measure governance are safety and security, human rights, sustainable economic opportunity, and human development.
Results from the index motivated Ibrahim to condemn the killing of pro-democracy protesters in Guinea. Captain Moussa “Dadis” Camara, who seized control of Guinea in December 2008, will be running for president during the January 2010 election after he previously promised he would not run. Many are protesting his candidacy, and violence has surrounded these protests.
The results of the index also sparked reference to Madagascar, where a military-backed politician over took the elected president in March and is also promising elections.
On the flip side of the study, Southern Africa ranked as the continent’s best-performing region. These good marks are due to the stable democracies in the region.
“The rest of Africa, where coups are taking place, should look at southern Africa and see how these guys are getting their act together,” said Ibrahim in a telephone news conference from Cape Town, where the index was launched.
On the top end of the study, Mauritius is shown to be the best-run country. This contrasts Somalia, which has had practically no central government since 1991 and therefore remains at the bottom of the ranks.
In an effort to promote leadership and end impunity, Ibrahim will award an annual $5 million dollars to the continent’s best leader. Last year Botswana’s former president, Festus Mogae, won the award.
The index was launched in 2007. Ibrahim acknowledged that inaccuracies existed within the data because the statistical offices need to be strengthened. He also mentioned that the 2009 index does not reflect the global financial crisis which may also affect the statistics.
For more information, please see:
AFP – Southern Africa “Best Governed on Continent” – 5 October 2009
AP – Group Condemns Guinea Shootings, Madagascar Coup – 5 October 2009
Daily Monitor – Mo Report Praises Uganda in Human Rights Observance – 5 October 2009
Reuters – Mauritius Scores Highest in African Governance Survey – 5 October 2009
