Mauritius Ranks 2nd in Africa for Governance but Loses Ground

Mauritius has retained its position as one of Africa's best-governed countries, ranking second out of 54 nations in the 2026 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG). The index, published by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, measures governance quality across the African continent and is widely regarded as the benchmark assessment of its kind. This edition covers the decade from 2016 to 2025.

Mauritius scored 75.0 out of 100, placing it comfortably above the continental average of 50.1 points and well above the East African regional average of 47.5 points. It sits just behind the Seychelles, which tops the rankings with 78.6 points, and ahead of Cape Verde in third place with 70.3 points.

However, the report does not paint an entirely positive picture. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation classifies Mauritius under the category "Bouncing Back," which signals a country that has experienced a meaningful decline over the full decade but is now showing signs of recovery in the more recent five-year period from 2021 to 2025.

Over the full ten-year span, Mauritius recorded a net drop of 1.9 points. That decline, modest as it may appear, was enough to cost the island its long-held status as Africa's top-ranked country for governance. The Seychelles, by contrast, improved by 8.3 points over the same period and took the top spot as a result.

Mauritius is not alone among the continent's high performers in moving in the wrong direction. Of the ten best-ranked African countries in 2025, six recorded lower scores than they had in 2016. Alongside Mauritius, those countries include Cape Verde, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Ghana.

What this means: For Mauritians, expats and investors, the overall picture is reassuring. A score of 75 out of 100 reflects strong institutions, public services and rule of law compared to most of Africa. But the decade-long slide is a signal that cannot be ignored. The "Bouncing Back" label suggests that the gains seen in recent years are still fragile and have not yet reversed the damage done over the broader period. For a country whose economic model depends heavily on its reputation as a stable, well-governed hub for finance, business and tourism, maintaining and improving that governance standing is not just a matter of prestige. It is a commercial and strategic necessity. Policymakers and observers will now be watching closely to see whether the recent recovery trend is sustained in the years ahead.

Source: ION News