The ranking places Rwanda ahead of other African countries assessed in the index, which measures governments’ efforts to prevent and combat corruption through public institutions, including the executive, parliament, judiciary, public procurement systems and anti-corruption bodies.

It also considers corruption in the private sector and public perceptions of anti-corruption efforts.

Rwanda has maintained the leading position in the category since 2016, while Seychelles recorded the biggest improvement over the decade, gaining 26.3 points and rising 12 places to join Rwanda at the top of the ranking.

The two countries were followed by Mauritius, Senegal, Benin, Botswana, Namibia, Cape Verde, Tunisia and Burkina Faso, which completed the top ten list.

The preliminary IIAG 2026 findings show that Africa has made gradual progress in addressing corruption over the past decade.

The continent’s average score increased from 38.6 points in 2016 to 39.1 points in 2025. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation noted that while performance declined between 2016 and 2020, the continent recorded steady improvement during the second half of the decade.

Beyond the leading performers, several countries recorded notable gains. Angola, Chad, Somalia and Togo were among those that registered the biggest improvements between 2016 and 2025.

Somalia, despite remaining among the lowest-ranked countries, showed significant progress, demonstrating that sustained reforms can contribute to governance improvements.

However, some countries experienced setbacks, with Comoros, Liberia, South Africa, Niger and Botswana recording the largest declines over the decade.

The report also highlighted progress in reducing private-sector corruption, which was the most improved indicator assessed.

However, public confidence in the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures remains a challenge, despite signs of recovery after reaching its lowest point in 2022.

The full Ibrahim Index of African Governance 2026 report is expected to be published on October 31.