Weak state institutions slowing democratic progress in East Africa, Mo Ibrahim says

The 2026 Ibrahim Index of African Governance finds that East African countries continue to lag in democratic governance. Weaknesses in security, the rule of law, anti-corruption efforts and civic participation are eroding state institutions, despite economic and human-development gains in some countries. Kenya and Rwanda rank among Africa’s top 20 countries overall. The report also warns that increasingly authoritarian tactics are shrinking civic space, enabling state-backed violence and suppressing political dissent.