Do African Union governance reviews work?

The research paper examines whether the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) has led to governance improvements in member states using the 2014 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) as a benchmark. The author finds mixed results: while 10 of 17 reviewed countries showed some progress—most notably Rwanda—others like Mali and Benin experienced regression. The paper concludes that there is no obvious direct positive correlation between APRM reviews and improved IIAG scores, largely because member states have failed to systematically implement the required National Programmes of Action (NPoA). To improve, the author recommends strengthening peer pressure, increasing secretariat support for national planning, and enhancing civil society engagement to ensure domestic accountability.

• Analysis of IIAG 2014 data for 17 APRM member states that underwent reviews shows mixed results, with a small majority (10 countries) showing some progress. Rwanda saw the highest improvement with an increase of 8.4 points, though this was primarily driven by human development rather than democratic governance.
• Several countries experienced governance regression following their APRM reviews. Mali showed the most significant decline, dropping 6.3 points due to the 2012 coup and instability, particularly in safety and the rule of law. Benin's score fell by 3.1 points, and Mozambique and Tanzania also registered declines.
• There is no clear direct positive correlation between undergoing an APRM review and achieving higher IIAG scores. While the reviews are effective at identifying governance challenges, most member states have failed to systematically eradicate these issues through the implementation of a National Programme of Action (NPoA).
• To realize the APRM's potential, the author proposes three interventions: empowering continental leadership to use peer pressure for NPoA implementation, increasing secretariat support for integrating NPoAs into national planning, and supporting civil society to foster domestic accountability.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2014). Do African Union governance reviews work? https://saiia.org.za/research/do-african-union-governance-reviews-work/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Do African Union governance reviews work? 2014. https://saiia.org.za/research/do-african-union-governance-reviews-work/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Do African Union governance reviews work? |date=20 October 2014 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/do-african-union-governance-reviews-work/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2014african, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Do African Union governance reviews work?}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2014}, month = oct, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/do-african-union-governance-reviews-work/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }