Africa’s efforts to combat corruption are showing renewed momentum, with Rwanda and Seychelles emerging as the continent’s strongest performers as governments strengthen oversight and accountability across public institutions.
The latest 2026 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), published by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, shows Africa’s average Anti-Corruption score rising to 39.1 in 2025, up from 38.6 in 2016. While the increase of 0.5 points appears modest, it reflects a broader recovery after anti-corruption performance declined between 2016 and 2020 before improving steadily over the second half of the decade.
The Foundation classified the continent’s overall anti-corruption trajectory as showing “Increasing Improvement.”
The Anti-Corruption indicator measures how effectively countries prevent and combat corruption across the executive, legislature, judiciary, public procurement systems, and dedicated anti-corruption institutions. It also considers corruption in the private sector alongside citizens’ perceptions of anti-corruption efforts.
Rwanda and Seychelles jointly topped the continental rankings in 2025, each scoring 76.6, significantly ahead of the rest of Africa.
Mauritius ranked third with 65.7, followed by Senegal (64.0), Benin (58.7), Botswana (57.8), Namibia (57.6), Cabo Verde (56.1), Tunisia (55.9), and Burkina Faso (55.6), completing the list of Africa’s ten strongest anti-corruption performers.
Rwanda has maintained its position as Africa’s leading anti-corruption performer throughout the past decade, while Seychelles recorded the continent’s most remarkable improvement. The island nation gained 26.3 points between 2016 and 2025, climbing 12 places to share the top ranking.
The report also highlights encouraging progress among several countries that have historically struggled with governance challenges.
Alongside Seychelles, Angola, Chad, Somalia, and Togo recorded the largest improvements over the decade. Although Somalia remains among the continent’s lowest-ranked countries overall, its gains suggest that sustained reforms can produce measurable improvements even from a low base.
The IIAG identifies Comoros, Liberia, South Africa, Niger, and Botswana among the countries recording the sharpest declines in anti-corruption performance since 2016. Botswana’s deterioration stands out given its long-standing reputation as one of Africa’s strongest governance performers.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) recorded the continent’s highest average Anti-Corruption score at 44.5, while the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) registered the lowest average at 26.9.
Meanwhile, the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) emerged as the fastest-improving regional bloc, with every member state posting gains over the past decade.
Beyond institutional reforms, the report points to notable progress in addressing corruption within the private sector, which registered the greatest improvement among the six anti-corruption indicators measured.
Despite stronger legal frameworks and oversight mechanisms, public perceptions of anti-corruption efforts deteriorated more than any other indicator during the decade. However, confidence has begun recovering since reaching its lowest level in 2022.
The report suggests that while many African governments are becoming more effective at strengthening anti-corruption institutions, translating those reforms into greater public trust remains one of the continent’s most pressing governance challenges.
