South Sudan ranked worst-governed in Africa in 2026 index
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation's 2026 index scores South Sudan 20.4 out of 100, placing it last of 54 countries.
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation has placed South Sudan at the bottom of its 2026 Ibrahim Index of African Governance, ranking it 54th of 54 countries with a score of 20.4 out of 100. The October report puts Somalia one place above it, on 26.6 points, and Sudan above that, on 27.4.
The index assesses governance across security and the rule of law, participation, rights and inclusion, foundations for economic opportunity, and human development. South Sudan gained 0.5 points between 2016 and 2025, which the report labels "Increasing Improvement", but the gain was not enough to lift it off the bottom. The findings point to weak public institutions and poor service delivery.
The index covers all 54 African countries over 2016 to 2025. The South Sudanese government has not yet responded to the report.
Why it mattersSouth Sudanese citizens are affected by weak public institutions and service delivery, the report's main concerns.