Ten African countries with the worst governance in 2024

The pursuit of good governance in Africa remains a persistent challenge, with many countries facing political instability, corruption, economic hurdles, and social unrest.

These nations confront significant governance obstacles, including political repression, human rights abuses, economic mismanagement, and conflict.

The governance index, as established by World Economics, assigns equal weight to all four criteria outlined by the researchers.

This means that governance, corruption perception, rule of law, press freedom, and political rights are all considered equally important factors in determining the overall governance score for a country.

The index numbers provided are all rebased and presented on a scale from 0 to 100, with higher values indicating better conditions. For governance, a score of 0 represents poor governance, while 100 signifies the highest level achievable. Similarly, corruption perception is rated on a scale where 0 indicates a negative perception and 100 reflects a positive perception.

The rule of law is measured from 0 to 100, with lower values indicating a lower rule of law and higher values indicating a stronger rule of law.

Press freedom is assessed on a scale where 0 represents limited press freedom and 100 signifies high press freedom. Political rights are graded from 0 to 100, with higher values indicating greater political rights.

The grade definitions are A: Very good, B: Good, C: Average, D: Poor, and E: Very poor.

Based on the ranking, Nigeria received a grade of D, indicating poor conditions, with a governance index score of 37.0.

According to the World Economics governance index, Here are ten African countries with the worst governance in 2024

Libya – Governance index 15.4

Libya has been embroiled in political turmoil and armed conflict since 2011. The absence of a strong central authority has led to the proliferation of armed groups, exacerbating security concerns and hindering efforts for stability and development.

Democratic Republic of Congo – Governance index 21.6

The DRC struggles with governance challenges, including corruption, weak institutions, and ongoing armed conflict in certain regions. These factors have contributed to persistent poverty and a lack of basic services for many of its citizens.

Chad – Governance index 23.2

Political repression, human rights abuses, and economic mismanagement characterize Chad’s governance landscape. The authoritarian rule and the concentration of power in the hands of a few have stifled political dissent and hindered progress toward democracy.

Burundi – Governance index 24.4

Burundi’s governance woes stem from a history of ethnic tensions, political violence, and authoritarian rule, The leader in 2015 sparked a Political causing widespread unrest, leading to a humanitarian crisis and further undermining democratic institutions.

Central African Republic – Governance index 25.1

Despite efforts to restore stability following years of conflict, the CAR continues to struggle with governance challenges, including weak state institutions, ethnic tensions, and armed groups vying for control. The persistent insecurity has hampered development and displaced thousands of civilians.

Cameroon – Governance index 27.2

Cameroon has faced decades of governance challenges marked by allegations of electoral fraud, human rights abuses, and a crackdown on political opposition. Additionally, the Anglophone crisis, fueled by grievances over marginalization and discrimination, has further destabilized the country, leading to widespread violence.

Republic of Congo – Governance index 28.4

The Republic of Congo struggles with governance challenges such as corruption, restricted political freedoms, and inadequate access to basic services. The authoritarian governance style in place has suppressed dissent and impeded meaningful political reform efforts.

Egypt– Governance index 28.8

Egypt struggles with governance challenges, notably restrictions on freedom of expression, crackdowns on civil society, and widespread concerns regarding human rights violations. The country’s leadership has been criticized for centralizing power and marginalizing political opposition, exacerbating societal tensions.

Zimbabwe – Governance index 29.0

Zimbabwe faces significant governance challenges, including years of economic mismanagement, corruption, and political repression. The government’s failure to implement meaningful reforms has perpetuated a cycle of poverty and stifled dissent among its citizens.

Eswatini – Governance index 30.5

Formerly known as Swaziland, Eswatini retains its status as an absolute monarchy characterized by restricted political freedoms and widespread poverty. The authoritarian governance contrasts sharply with the socioeconomic challenges experienced by much of the population.