# Economically & governmentally what is the best run African country? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 25, 2008, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528 "2008-05-25T03:39:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/1 "2008-05-25T03:39:34Z")
Just curious. They can’t all be basket cases. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/2 "2008-05-25T03:46:14Z")
South Africa is by far the largest economy on the continent, and in the urban areas is generally considered to be at a First World level of development. Kenya has managed to run itself fairly competently as compared to its neighbors, and has probably had one of the best post-colonial histories in the region, with few coup attempts, fair elections (most of the time) and a peaceful democratic transition a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/3 "2008-05-25T04:15:53Z")
[Gabon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabon) has the highest [Human Development Index](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index) in sub-Saharan Africa. I wouldn’t call it exactly “well-governed.” Its fortunate position is due more to a small population (about 2 million) and lots of oil and other resources than to great government. But at least its politicians haven’t been as nearly as rapacious as elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/4 "2008-05-25T04:21:11Z")
Besides Gabon, the other sub-Saharan countries with a relatively high HDI are South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/5 "2008-05-25T09:37:02Z")
I’ve also read several praises on Botswana. It’s rich in diamonds, and the revenues from mining natural resources don’t disappear in the pockets of corrupt government officials but are invested in economic development. Its foreign debt is “negligible”, according to Wikipedia (piling up foreign reserves instead), and [in credit ratings](https://entry.credit-suisse.ch/csfs/p/cb/en/tradefinance/landinfo/lio_laenderratings.jsp), it receives Africa’s best scores. Are you asking specifically about sub-Saharan Africa? Libya, due to oil revenues, is currently developing at a fast pace. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/6 "2008-05-25T10:59:29Z")
Of course one can argue about how well run Libya is politically, but economically it’s stronger than most of Africa. ---
**Author:** ![unspun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b9bd4f/32.png) [@unspun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unspun)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/7 "2008-05-25T17:16:27Z")
Botswana, maybe Malawi. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/8 "2008-05-25T20:36:36Z")
[QUOTE=astro] Just curious. They can’t all be basket cases. [/QUOTE] Economically, it’s South Africa, hands down. Governmentally, I’d say it’s also South Africa. We certainly have an advanced constitution (more so than the US, at any rate) and well-developed civil society, and as far as government corruption and incompetence goes, well, it’s not great (look up Travelgate and the Arms Deal fiasco) but I’ve seen worse _cough_Halliburton_cough_Iraq_cough_…my, it’s dusty in here 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/9 "2008-05-25T20:43:29Z")
Oh, and if anyone was interested, up until say 5 years ago, I’d have said it was also us _militarily_. Now, I’m not so sure, we still have an overwhelming tech edge but the military’s been fairly gutted by HIV and brain drain. Not that I’m complaining. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/10 "2008-05-25T21:03:56Z")
[QUOTE=MrDibble] We certainly have an advanced constitution (more so than the US, at any rate)… [/QUOTE] :dubious: Please define a “more advanced constitution.” ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/11 "2008-05-25T21:05:31Z")
[QUOTE=MrDibble] Economically, it’s South Africa, hands down. Governmentally, I’d say it’s also South Africa. We certainly have an advanced constitution (more so than the US, at any rate) [/QUOTE] What makes a Constitution “advanced?” Also, as an American, I am extremely offended that another country feels it is appropriate to suffix their political scandals with “-gate.” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/12 "2008-05-25T21:06:21Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] Kenya has managed to run itself fairly competently as compared to its neighbors, and has probably had one of the best post-colonial histories in the region, with few coup attempts, fair elections (most of the time) and a peaceful democratic transition a few years ago. [/QUOTE] Kenya was doing well up until the recent unpleasantness, but it’s not clear how that’s going to affect their long-term prospects. Not well, of course. Some of the small island nations are doing pretty well for themselves. ---
**Author:** ![WoodenTaco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/45deac/32.png) [@WoodenTaco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WoodenTaco)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/13 "2008-05-26T01:21:56Z")
Senegal has a fascinatingly vibrant, successful democracy. See [Politics of Senegal - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Senegal) ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/14 "2008-05-26T01:37:46Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] Kenya has managed to run itself fairly competently as compared to its neighbors, and has probably had one of the best post-colonial histories in the region, with few coup attempts, fair elections (most of the time) and a peaceful democratic transition a few years ago. [/QUOTE] Kenya, even before its recent troubles, had terrible problems with tribalism, crime and corruption. Transparency International gives it an [abysmal](http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2007) rating. The countries you hear decent things about are Botswana, Tanzania (strong economic growth in recent years), and Ghana (one of the highest GDPs in Africa, pushed up by strong demand for commodities). ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/15 "2008-05-26T02:10:02Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Please define a “more advanced constitution.” [qUOTE=friedo] What makes a Constitution “advanced?” [/QUOTE] Perhaps \*\*MrDibble \*\* means that it’s more recent? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/16 "2008-05-26T03:20:19Z")
Unlike the American Constitution, the South African Constitution has opposable thumbs. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/17 "2008-05-26T08:12:44Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] Unlike the American Constitution, the South African Constitution has opposable thumbs. [/QUOTE] Oh yeah? Well _our_ Constitution brought a _flag_ 😛 ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/18 "2008-05-26T09:19:03Z")
Our constitution is more advanced because it is newer, so it has things like no gender-, race- and sexual orientation-based discrimination built into the Bill of Rights from the get-go. So a lot of stuff covered by amendments to the US one, like slavery and suffrage, plus some stuff that should be covered by yours and isn’t, like gay rights and children’s rights, as well as outlawing the death penalty. Also, it doesn’t have holdovers from the days of black powder like the 2nd. Its stability as a founding document has already been tested when our Constitutional Court forced the legalisation of same-sex marriage. [Our Bill of Rights](http://www.info.gov.za/documents/constitution/1996/96cons2.htm) Our constitution also has [a flag](http://www.info.gov.za/documents/constitution/1996/96conssec1.htm), BTW. Gotta love how it specifies “chili red”! ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/19 "2008-05-26T09:25:12Z")
Oh, I forgot to mention - freedom of reproductive choice is also enshrined in the BoR. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528/20 "2008-05-26T09:35:29Z")
[QUOTE=MrDibble] Our constitution is more advanced because it is newer, so it has things like no gender-, race- and sexual orientation-based discrimination built into the Bill of Rights from the get-go. So a lot of stuff covered by amendments to the US one, like slavery and suffrage, plus some stuff that should be covered by yours and isn’t, like gay rights and children’s rights, as well as outlawing the death penalty. Also, it doesn’t have holdovers from the days of black powder like the 2nd. Its stability as a founding document has already been tested when our Constitutional Court forced the legalisation of same-sex marriage. [Our Bill of Rights](http://www.info.gov.za/documents/constitution/1996/96cons2.htm) Our constitution also has [a flag](http://www.info.gov.za/documents/constitution/1996/96conssec1.htm), BTW. Gotta love how it specifies “chili red”! [/QUOTE] I was surprised to learn that Zimbabwe’s constitution is also “more advanced” than that of the United States. Ah well. Best of luck to both our countries. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-governmentally-what-is-the-best-run-african-country/450528.md?page=2)