Study finds that "backsliding" democracy has hampered Africa's growth.

According to an African foundation, over the past three years, there has been "widespread democratic backsliding" and deteriorating security, which has hampered Africa's progress in human and economic development.

The Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), created by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation to monitor political stability and democratic participation across Africa, was released on Wednesday.

After 2012, excellent governance in Africa had "marginally improved," but since 2019, the trend has "flatlined."

An increasingly dangerous security environment and widespread democratic regress undermine advancements in human development and economic underpinnings, it noted.

The IIAG stated that "governments have become increasingly likely to violate rights, restrict freedom of expression and association, and put restrictions on civic space."

According to the research, the trend "rapidly increased" when numerous elections were postponed and administrations used COVID as "a pretext to crack down on opposition."

However, according to the index, more than 90% of people on the continent now reside in nations with higher levels of human development than in 2012 in terms of things like health, education, social protection, and other metrics.

Mauritius, Seychelles, Tunisia, Cape Verde, and Botswana were the top-performing nations in terms of good governance.

After Somalia and Eritrea, South Sudan came in last.

Additionally, it noted significant progress for women and noted that The Gambia, the Seychelles, and some other nations were "bucking the continental trend."

It stated that compared to 2012, "women are experiencing greater equality in political and social areas in 42 African countries."

The charity, which is controlled by billionaire Sudanese-British Mo Ibrahim, created the index in 2007.