Governance in Namibia deteriorates, according to Ibrahim Index of African Governance

Namibia has fallen by one rank in terms of overall governance since 2014.

The country now ranks sixth in Africa, according to the recently published 2024 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG).

The IIAG, released on 23 October, is the most important survey of governance in Africa. It is conducted by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and is published every two years.

The findings indicate that throughout the last decade, Namibia has experienced worsening governance, although the deterioration is slowing.

Namibia remains in the top 10 for overall governance, but it is also among the countries with the worst deterioration in the last decade.

“Four top 10 countries – Botswana, Mauritius, Namibia and Tunisia – also feature among the top 10 most deteriorated countries over the decade,” the report reads.

Namibia ranks seventh in terms of governance deterioration, while neighbouring Botswana ranks sixth.

With regard to public administration, Namibia ranks ninth on the continent, while ranking seventh in terms of anti-corruption. However, both subcategories show increasing deterioration in the last decade, according to the IIAG.

Namibia’s worst ranking is that for safety and security, where the country is in 21st place. This subcategory also experienced increasing deterioration, the report shows.

The country ranks 17th in terms of social protection and welfare, and 16th with regard to inclusion and equality, as well as women’s equality.
Namibia is most successful in the subcategory ‘rights’, where the country ranks third on the continent with increasing improvement in the last decade.

Namibia is the fourth most regionally integrated country, the report shows.

The country also takes fourth place in the subcategories ‘business and labour environment’, ‘participation’, ‘accountability and transparency’, and ‘rule of law’.

The Seychelles takes the top spot in overall governance, followed by Mauritius, Cabo Verde, South Africa and Botswana.

At continental average level, overall governance progress in the last 10 years has come to a standstill since 2022.

“For almost half of the continent’s population, overall governance performance is worse in 2023 than it was in 2014,” the report reads.