Governance and rule of law decline reported in Mozambique and Zambia

Mozambique has dropped six places in the 2026 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), ranking 29th out of 54 countries. The report indicates a deterioration in governance quality between 2016 and 2025, with the decline accelerating since 2021. Key areas of sharpest decline include rights, gender equality, security, and participation. Notably, Mozambique is the only country among seven identified with intensifying deterioration that did not experience a coup d’état during the review period. However, the index noted progress in human development and foundations for economic opportunity, specifically regarding the socioeconomic inclusion of young people.

In Zambia, the 2026 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index ranks the country 121st globally in fundamental rights and 25th out of 34 Sub-Saharan African nations. The report highlights concerns regarding the rule of law, noting that judicial constraints on government power have declined and the integrity of checks and balances has been weakened. Zambia also saw declines in open government, absence of corruption, and regulatory enforcement, reflecting broader global trends of expanding authoritarianism and shrinking civic space.