ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Governance has improved in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, a governance monitor said Monday.

Mauritius was ranked as the best-run country and Somalia the worst of the 48 countries surveyed, according to the 2008 Ibrahim Index of African Governance. Liberia improved most, jumping from 43rd to 38th place.

“Africa is making progress,” said Sudanese-born billionaire Mo Ibrahim, who started the index in 2007. He noted that 31 countries improved from last year's index.

Despite the gains, some countries – including all but one in the volatile Horn of Africa – have gone down. The Horn includes Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti, which was the only of the four to improve this year.

Ethiopia slipped one place from last year's ranking to take 31st place. Somalia, which has not had an effective central government since 1991, has twice come in last in the index.

The ranking is based on 57 criteria including security, crime, corruption, women's rights, inflation, health and education. The index used data from 2006, the most recent available.

The foundation uses local researchers and international and local organizations to compile data, which is compiled and analyzed with help from researchers at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

Ibrahim also awards an annual $5 million prize to an outstanding African leader, spread over 10 years after leaving office.

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