Thailand: The Director-General of the South Asian, Middle East, and African Affairs Department recently visited the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, underscoring Thailand's commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties and exploring opportunities for collaboration in various sectors.
According to African Press Organization, the visit comes amidst the backdrop of the 2025 Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI), which identified Mauritius as the leading government in Africa, followed by Rwanda and Botswana. The index highlighted that the average score for African countries was the lowest among all regions, despite some improvements from 2024 to 2025. This was articulated by Dinesh Naidu, Director (Knowledge) at the Chandler Institute of Governance, during a regional launch event of the Index in Pretoria. The event convened policymakers, academics, and practitioners to deliberate on Africa's governance journey and to draw lessons from the latest findings.
The CGGI, now in its fifth year, remains a comprehensive global measure of government capabilities and effectiveness. For Africa, the 2025 edition of the Index offers a mixed yet forward-looking perspective. Mauritius, Rwanda, Botswana, Morocco, and South Africa were identified as the top five regional performers. Notably, Mauritius has maintained its position as the highest-ranked African country for the fifth consecutive year, while Rwanda emerged as the best-performing low-income country globally, demonstrating that national wealth is not a necessity for effective governance.
Botswana's recent digitalization reforms have enhanced its judiciary quality, and Morocco has made advancements in data transparency and digital infrastructure. South Africa, despite facing fiscal challenges, is recognized for its strong institutional capacity and remains a key reference in the region.
Dinesh Naidu emphasized the importance of South Africa's existing frameworks and the need to translate these into inclusive and tangible outcomes for its citizens. Across Africa, there are notable examples of government innovation aimed at improving service delivery and accountability.
Tanzania, although not in the top five, has shown significant improvement since the Index's inception in 2021, moving up from 82nd to 78th globally. The Digital Tanzania Project and new regulatory frameworks like the Data Protection Act are foundational to technology-driven governance solutions.
The CGGI reveals Africa's average governance score as the lowest globally, with financial stewardship as a critical concern. However, the continent's demographic momentum presents opportunities, with 70% of Sub-Saharan Africa's population under 30. Governments focusing on employment, education, and inclusive growth can leverage this for substantial benefits.
The CGGI serves as a practical tool for governments under pressure, providing actionable benchmarks across various governance pillars. The Index encourages peer-to-peer learning and inspires improvements, with the Chandler Institute of Governance remaining committed to partnering with African governments to foster resilience and inclusivity.