Sudan has recorded one of the sharpest declines in governance performance in Africa over the past decade, ranking third among the continent's most deteriorated countries. The 2026 Ibrahim Index of African Governance, released by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation on October 31, assessed governance performance across Africa between 2016 and 2025. The index placed Sudan 52nd out of 54 countries, with an overall score of 27.4 out of 100.
Sudan's overall governance score has declined by 5.1 points since 2021. The country's Security and Safety recorded the sharpest decline among the assessed categories, falling by 17.5 points, making it the lowest-scoring category in Africa. This decline is attributed to the devastating war that erupted on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
The conflict has caused widespread destruction, mass displacement, and disruption of essential public services. The United Nations has warned that the conflict has triggered one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, with millions of people displaced and essential infrastructure destroyed. Access to healthcare, education, water, and other basic services has also been severely disrupted.
The Ibrahim Index of African Governance assesses how governments deliver political, social, economic, and environmental goods and services to their citizens across 54 African countries. Despite the overall decline, the index identified improvements in some areas. Sudan's Inclusion and Equality score increased by 8.8 points, making it the second most improved country in Africa in that category.
Sudan's Public Administration score dropped by 21.4 points, the largest deterioration recorded by any African country in that category. The index also showed a 13.6-point decline in Social Protection and Welfare, reflecting setbacks in the country's ability to provide social services and support vulnerable populations.
The World Health Organization reported in February 2026 that 33.7 million people in Sudan needed humanitarian assistance, including 21 million requiring health assistance. It also estimated that 11.5 million people had been forcibly displaced by the conflict. The country's fragmented state authorities have further deteriorated governance, with rival administrations operating in different parts of the country.
Sudan also recorded a 9.7-point improvement in Rural Economy, although these gains have not offset the broader deterioration in governance performance. The country's governance deterioration is attributed to decades of military rule, regional inequalities, and competition for political and economic power. The ongoing conflict has heightened these weaknesses, leading to a significant decline in governance performance.
Key points
- Sudan's overall governance score declined by 5.1 points since 2021.
- The country's Security and Safety category recorded a 17.5-point decline.
- Sudan ranked 52nd out of 54 countries in the 2026 Ibrahim Index of African Governance.
