Southern Africa leads, Central Africa lags as political rights and economic openness decline across the continent
A new continental study has revealed that Africa’s overall level of freedom and prosperity remains fragile, with democratic rights shrinking and economic opportunities tightening despite signs of resilience in some regions.
The Freedom in Africa Report (FinAR 2025), produced by the Liberalist Centre, a pan-African policy think tank, places the continent’s overall freedom score at 52.8 out of 100, below the global average of 63.3. The report concludes that while Africa has made progress in some areas, such gains are uneven, reversible, and under growing pressure from authoritarian politics, corruption, and inequality.
The 120-page report, which examined 54 countries, assesses freedom and prosperity across three broad dimensions; Political Freedom, Economic Freedom, and Prosperity, using 20 indicators ranging from judicial independence and press freedom to trade openness, education access, and peace stability.
“Freedom in Africa cannot remain a concept debated at conferences; it must be something people feel in their everyday lives,” the report states. “It shows up when a journalist can report without fear, when a trader can cross a border without harassment, and when a young person can start a business online in minutes.”
The study found Southern Africa to be the continent’s most open and prosperous region, with a score of 61.8, led by countries like Mauritius, Botswana, and Namibia, which were praised for their strong governance and respect for the rule of law.
However, the report notes that inequality remains a major issue across the region. Southern Africa’s prosperity means little if it stays in the hands of a few, it warns. While education and healthcare are relatively strong, the benefits of growth are unevenly shared.
At the other end of the scale, Central Africa ranked lowest, scoring 44.3, weighed down by weak institutions, ongoing conflicts, and poor infrastructure. Despite abundant oil and mineral resources, countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, and the Central African Republic continue to struggle with insecurity, corruption, and lack of public accountability.
The report maintained that peace must come before prosperity, urging regional bodies to focus on peacebuilding and institutional reform.
One of FinAR’s most concerning findings is the steady decline in political freedom across Africa. The continent’s average political freedom score dropped from 51.4 in 2020 to 47.0 in 2025, reflecting what it describes as a shrinking civic space and declining trust in democratic processes.
Elections, the report notes, are increasingly characterised by irregularities, intimidation, and administrative weaknesses. Freedom of speech and media remain restricted in several countries, while judicial systems continue to face interference from political actors.
“Even where constitutions guarantee free expression, enforcement is inconsistent,” said the report’s Executive Director, Abdullah Tijani. “Journalists, activists, and citizens often face harassment or arrest for exercising basic rights.”
In Nigeria, for instance, FinAR cited the aftermath of the 2020 #EndSARS protests and subsequent government crackdowns as examples of deepening repression. Similar patterns were observed in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Egypt, where civic dissent is often met with force or censorship.
The report also paints a troubling picture of economic freedom, which it says has collapsed after brief improvement. Between 2020 and 2022, Africa’s economic freedom score rose modestly from 53.9 to 56.4, but fell sharply to 42.8 by 2025.
FinAR attributes the decline to rising taxation, regulatory inconsistency, and increasing state intervention in key sectors. Many businesses now face what it describes as policy unpredictability, discouraging both local and foreign investment.
Countries such as Mauritius, Botswana, and Cabo Verde still rank among the top performers, while Libya, South Sudan, and Chad lag behind due to conflict and economic mismanagement.
The report warns that unless governments prioritise transparency and reduce bureaucratic red tape, Africa’s entrepreneurial energy will continue to be stifled.
“Entrepreneurship is one of Africa’s greatest strengths,” said Eric Mobu, Programme Manager at the Liberalist Centre. “But too often, people face unnecessary barriers just to start or grow a business. That must change.”
West Africa, with a regional score of 57.8, remains one of the most mobile and civically active regions in the world. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) continues to facilitate visa-free movement across its 15 member states, driving trade and cross-border cooperation.
However, the region’s politics remain volatile. Since 2020, six military coups have taken place in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea, eroding trust in democratic institutions. The creation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in 2024, following several coups, marked a symbolic departure from ECOWAS and further deepened regional fragmentation.
Despite this, the report praises West Africa’s youth activism — from Nigeria’s #EndSARS to Senegal’s pro-democracy marches — as evidence of growing civic consciousness. If channelled constructively, West Africa’s youthful population could become the engine of democratic renewal, FinAR states.
Northern Africa scored 51.2, with significant progress in education, healthcare, and digital infrastructure, but little political openness.
The Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), created in 1989 to foster trade among Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania, remains inactive due to long-standing political rifts. Regional trade accounts for less than five per cent of total trade, one of the lowest levels globally.
Tunisia’s reversal of democratic reforms and Algeria’s restrictions on dissent underscore a regional trend: development without democracy. The report recommends reopening political space and reviving regional integration to harness the region’s social and economic potential.
With a score of 49.2, Eastern Africa showcases both dynamism and fragility. Kenya and Rwanda lead the region’s digital transformation, hosting thriving fintech sectors and startup ecosystems. Yet, the region struggles with political instability and restricted civic space.
“Internet shutdowns during elections, press restrictions, and weak opposition rights continue to dampen confidence,” FinAR noted. The report calls for investment in infrastructure and education that aligns with digital innovation, warning that growth without governance will remain fragile.
On a brighter note, Africa’s prosperity index has shown improvement, climbing from 47.9 in 2020 to 55.1 in 2025 after a pandemic-induced slump in 2023. This growth, according to FinAR, was driven by investment in digital trade, infrastructure, and post-COVID recovery.
However, poverty reduction, healthcare, and education continue to lag. The report found that inequality remains high at 4.6 out of 10, with millions lacking access to basic services.
“Economic growth only matters when people feel it in their daily lives,” the report warns. “Governments must turn growth statistics into real opportunities.”
FinAR 2025 also sounds the alarm over what it calls the rise of digital authoritarianism. In 2024 alone, 21 internet shutdowns were recorded across 15 countries, the highest ever documented in a single year.
Most shutdowns occurred during elections or protests, disrupting communication, banking, and media operations. Countries such as Uganda, Kenya, and Guinea-Bissau were among those that cut off access to online platforms, often citing national security.
“These blackouts go beyond inconvenience — they silence dissent and weaken Africa’s digital economy,” said FinAR’s data analyst, Praise Odabi. The report urges governments to outlaw arbitrary shutdowns and guarantee data protection through independent agencies.
The report highlights Africa’s youth population, now over 60 per cent of the continent as both a challenge and an opportunity. Youth-led movements are emerging as powerful forces for accountability, mobilising through social media to demand jobs, justice, and reform.
In 2025 alone, the report tracked over 1,000 protests and civic movements across all five African regions, with Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa recording some of the highest numbers.
“Today’s youth are not waiting for permission to speak,” FinAR observes. “They are claiming their space in the political and economic life of their nations.”
One of the few bright spots is Africa’s improving visa-free mobility. In 2025, Ghana and Kenya joined Benin, The Gambia, Rwanda, and Seychelles in allowing visa-free entry to all Africans — bringing the total to six countries.
However, nearly half of intra-African travellers still require visas before departure. West Africa remains the most open sub-region, while North Africa continues to lag due to security concerns and political divisions.
FinAR calls for a continent-wide African Travel Pass by 2030 to complement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), making movement for business and tourism easier and cheaper.
To reverse current declines, the Liberalist Centre outlined five policy priorities for African governments between 2025 and 2030. They include strengthening civic space and judicial independence; deepening regional trade and mobility; protecting digital freedom and innovation; promoting inclusive prosperity; and building stability and accountability in fragile states.
The Centre also proposed the creation of National Freedom Observatories in every country to track civic rights, economic openness, and social wellbeing.
See the full report here
