Mauritius Named Africa’s Best-Governed Country for Fifth Year Running

Mauritius has once again claimed the title of Africa’s best-governed nation in the 2025 Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI), retaining its top position for the fifth consecutive year. Rwanda and Botswana followed in second and third place, respectively.

The announcement was made by Dinesh Naidu, Director (Knowledge) at the Chandler Institute of Governance, during the regional launch of the Index in Pretoria, South Africa. Now in its fifth year, the CGGI assesses government capability and effectiveness across 120 countries, examining seven key areas including leadership, institutions, financial management, and service delivery.

Naidu noted that while Africa’s overall performance remains the lowest globally, several countries have shown notable improvements. “Even in a challenging global environment, high-performance African countries are making governance advances that can inspire peers across the continent,” he said.

In the 2025 rankings, Mauritius scored 51, followed by Rwanda (59), Botswana (61), Morocco (75), and South Africa (77) as the continent’s top five performers. Rwanda was also recognized as the world’s best-performing low-income country, highlighting that effective governance does not depend on national wealth. Botswana received praise for judicial digitalisation reforms, Morocco for advancements in data transparency and digital infrastructure, and South Africa for maintaining institutional capacity despite fiscal pressures.

Tanzania was highlighted for its progress, moving from 82nd to 78th globally since the Index began in 2021. Naidu credited initiatives like the Digital Governance Project and the Data Protection Act for laying the foundation for technology-driven governance solutions.

Despite these gains, many African countries continue to face fiscal challenges, with heavy debt burdens affecting development. Naidu emphasized that Africa’s youthful population presents opportunities if governments can deliver jobs, education, and inclusive growth. “Good government is built over decades, but every step forward matters. Progress in strong institutions and digital governance shows that even in a tough global environment, improvement is possible,” he said.

The CGGI serves as a practical benchmark for governments to track progress, strengthen institutions, and enhance service delivery.