Search results for:
755 results found
Webinar Recap: Security & Rule of Law
On Friday, 4 August 2023, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation (MIF) organised a webinar to discuss the key findings of the 2022 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) in the Security & Rule of Law category. Ben Crumpton, a researcher at MIF, hosted the session along with Now Generation Network (NGN) member Mubarak Aliyu, Political and Security Risk… Read more
2024 Fellowships applications are now open
Dakar and London, 21 August - The Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships have officially opened applications for their programme aimed at nurturing and guiding the future leaders of Africa. This annual Fellowship programme, known for its career-boosting work, is calling on outstanding emerging leaders to join the 2024 cohort of #MIFFellows and take part… Read more
2nd SDG summit: Stagnating progress puts SDGs in peril in Africa
The upcoming second Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) summit on 18-19 September in New York marks the halfway point to the deadline set for achieving the 2030 Agenda. Africa scores better than OECD countries on climate and environmental goals, but poorly on goals related to human and economic development On average, the SDG Index score for… Read more, Selected groups and regions: SDG index score in climate/environment related Goals (2022) , The three lowest scoring goals for the continent have been Goal 9 - Industry, innovation and infrastructure (28.2), Goal 7 - Affordable and clean energy (36.9) and Goal 1 - No poverty (43.9), goals that relate closely to economic and human development. Despite these low scores, Goal 9 is the most improved on average across Africa since 2015 (+8… Read more, A trade-off between climate and development goals? Critics of the SDGs have pointed to incoherence among policy goals. The data suggests a potential trade-off between certain goals, specifically those related to climate and development. Of the ten best performers globally in Goal 13 – Climate Action, five are among the worst performers in Goal… Read more, Northern African countries perform best on SDG Index, but are not the most improved At the country level, four of the five highest scoring countries on the continent on the 2023 SDG Index are in Northern Africa: Tunisia (72.5), Morocco (70.9), Algeria (70.8) and Egypt (69.6). Cabo Verde ranks fifth (68.8). Despite these high scores, none… Read more, Africa: SDG index score (2015 - 2022) , Concerning signs of stagnation appearing Goal 16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions are one of only two goals to have deteriorated on average in Africa since 2015 (-2.3). However, over the last five years, four more goals have deteriorated: Goal 8 - Decent work and economic growth, Goal 11 - Sustainable cities and communities (-1.1), Goal… Read more
Evolving Military Landscape in Africa: International players and their impact
Africa has become a focal point for military engagements by international organisations and non-African states, shaping the continent's security dynamics. The current landscape, characterised by several significant presences with evolving strategies, reflects both cooperation and competition among these actors. Multilateral institutions have… Read more, The European Union's (EU) presence is also palpable, evident through the European External Action Service (EEAS) and its 13 civilian and military missions operating in various African nations. These initiatives aim at capacity building, training, and security enhancement. However, the EU's redirection of substantial funds from its European Peace… Read more, Non-African countries: military base or military presence in Africa (2023) , France's approach to its African presence is undergoing a significant shift. The conclusion of Operation Barkhane in 2022 marked a turning point, with President Macron announcing a gradual reduction in France’s military footprint. A renewed emphasis on training and equipment provision is expected to complement this withdrawal. China's influence… Read more
Public debt in Africa: structure is the primary issue, not volume
Africa’s public debt is actually lower than in other world regions In absolute terms, Africa's public debt is lower than any other world region but Oceania. The total debt stock owed by all African governments equates to over $1.8 trillion. Germany alone has a greater debt stock than this at $2.9 trillion. Even adjusted for GDP, African debt… Read more, World regions: share of total global public debt (2023) , African public debts are mainly held by non-African lenders and in foreign currencies African countries' public debts are uniquely burdensome, in part because they are mainly owed to international rather than domestic lenders, making debt harder to refinance or restructure. Of the 10 African countries with data on creditor residency, seven owe… Read more, Africa: currency of public external debt (2021) , Most debt is owed to private sector creditors, who charge African countries higher interest rates In 2021, more than one third (40.4%) of Africa’s public external debt was owed to the private sector. Post-2008 private sector lenders made more credit available to Africa in order to obtain higher returns than the low rates on offer in the Global… Read more, Africa: creditors of public external debt (2021) , Debt servicing costs rise as continent hit by multiple crises The combination of multiple crises such as climate change, COVID-19 and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have led many African countries to struggle with debt sustainability. Between 2010 and 2021, external debt servicing payments in Africa have more than quadrupled, growing at over 60… Read more
Mo Ibrahim advocates four key points ahead of Africa Climate Summit
In anticipation of the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Mo Ibrahim has penned an op-ed outlining four critical themes for discussion at the event. The article emphasises the intertwined nature of climate challenges and development in Africa, where limited infrastructure and low resilience exacerbate climate impacts. The op-ed underscores… Read more
Statement: African Union’s recognition as a permanent member of the G20
We welcome the decision taken at the G20 hosted by India to admit the African Union as a permanent member, a cause we have long supported. With a seat at the table, Africa, a continent that is home to nearly a fifth of the world's population, can play its role in an inclusive global agenda. This decision marks an important step towards… Read more
Webinar Recap: Africa's Progress Towards the Sustainable Development Goals
On Friday, 1 September 2023, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation (MIF) organised a webinar highlighting Africa's journey toward achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This webinar had particular significance because we are currently at the midpoint of this ambitious agenda. During the… Read more, Compelling data points to a potential trade-off between climate-related goals and development goals. Countries excelling in climate action may need more affordable energy and economic infrastructure. , Top African Performers in 2022 In 2022, Northern African countries took the lead in the overall SDG Index, with Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and Egypt achieving notable scores. However, the most improved countries since 2015 include Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Senegal, Djibouti, and Rwanda. The Challenges in the Last Five Years Certain SDGs have… Read more
New research paper: A coup is never a solution
The Foundation's latest research paper, A coup is never a solution: Analysis of the warning signs and impact of recent coups in Western Africa, analyses trends and warning signs of countries that have experienced a coup d'état from 2020-2023 using data from the 2022 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG). The research highlights indicators… Read more
Nouveau document de recherche : Un coup d'État n'est pas la solution
Le dernier document de recherche de la Fondation, Un coup d'État n'est pas la solution : Analyse des signes précurseurs et des conséquences des récents coups d'État en Afrique de l'Ouest, analyse les tendances et les signes précurseurs des pays ayant connu un coup d'État entre 2020 et 2023 en utilisant les données de l'Indice Ibrahim de la… Read more
