Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (file photo)

DAKAR, 5 October 2009 (IRIN) - West Africa ranks third after Southern Africa and North Africa on the 2009 Mo Ibrahim index of African governance assessing governance across the continent's five regions, spanning 53 countries.

The index, released on 5 October, assesses performance on safety of populations and the rule of law, participation in political processes and human rights, sustainable economic opportunities and human development in each country.

Cape Verde, ranked second overall, is the highest-scoring West African country. Liberia’s score has increased the most in West Africa since 2005. “Its score is a reflection of the high participation…in its post-conflict political process,” Mo Ibrahim Foundation head of research, Hania Farhan, told IRIN. “But Liberia is still brought down by poor human development indicators, having made little progress on education,” she added.

Guinea fell substantially in the safety and rule of law category – “a direct reflection of the shift in power to the junta,” according to Farhan, with personal safety dropping sgnificantly.

Mauritania, which saw a military coup in August, also scored low on personal safety, Farhan said.

The index was created in recognition of the need for a robust tool for civil society to track government performance in Africa.

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