Billionaire philanthropist Mo Ibrahim has expressed concerns over the decline of democracy, human rights, and public participation in governance across Africa. In an interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP), Ibrahim discussed the latest report by his Mo Ibrahim Foundation, which assessed governance across African countries over the past decade. The report found improvements in economic opportunities and social development but significant deterioration in security, human rights, and public participation in decision-making.
The report highlighted that 30 African countries, home to half of the continent's population, recorded better governance scores in 2025 than in 2016, largely driven by economic progress. However, 23 countries experienced declines, while one recorded no change. Ibrahim attributed the deterioration in rights and freedoms across Africa partly to the weakening of liberal democracy globally, including in the United States, Europe, and Russia.
Ibrahim expressed concern over recent elections in Tanzania and Uganda, where security forces have been accused of killing thousands of protesters and attacking opposition leaders. He described the situations in the two countries as "a huge shame." The report also found that seven of the 10 countries with the sharpest declines in governance had experienced at least one military coup over the past decade.
Burkina Faso recorded the steepest deterioration in governance, while Nigeria, Sudan, and Tunisia were also among the countries whose governance performance worsened. Ibrahim criticized the foreign policy of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, saying Washington had shifted toward a transactional approach to diplomacy that undermined the international order and respect for the rule of law.
Ibrahim also expressed disappointment over the U.S. decision to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and cut funding that had supported programmes across Africa. He described the move as particularly difficult and argued that African countries should have been given time to prepare for the withdrawal of assistance.
Ibrahim called on African governments to become more self-reliant while building partnerships with any countries willing to cooperate, including those in Europe, China, and India. He emphasized that the continent's future depended largely on its young population, which now accounts for more than 60% of Africa's people. By 2050, one in every three young people worldwide is expected to be African.
Ibrahim expressed hope that the younger generation, which is better informed and more educated than previous generations, could help address the continent's governance challenges. He admitted that his generation missed many opportunities for Africa but encouraged young people to take an active role in shaping the continent's future.
Key points
- Mo Ibrahim warns of a decline in democracy and human rights across Africa.
- The report by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation found significant deterioration in security, human rights, and public participation in decision-making.
- Ibrahim calls on African governments to become more self-reliant and build partnerships with other countries.
