[South Sudan’s Salva Kiir with Uhuru Kenyatta. His government has been ranked as one of the most undemocratic. Photo/Nation]
A survey by US - based Freedom House shows worrying trends on democratic space in African countries, which have a bad history of poor governance.
The study by non profit making organisation indicates substantive decline of freedom of speech and respect of civil rights with at least all East African nations affected.
Although he remains fairly liberal, Tanzania's John Magaufuli's administration dropped from the previous year's 58 percent to 52 percent.
In Kenya, President Uhuru Kenyatta's leadership dropped from a rating of 51 to 48 percent with a similar fate befitting Uganda's Yoweri Museveni being rated at 37 percent. All the three countries are categorised as 'partly free'.
But a worrying trend emerged in Rwanda, where President Paul Kagame's human rights record has been periodically questioned by international community.
Kagame's Rwanda, although in a partly free category, scored 23 percent while his neighbour, Pierre Nkurunzinsa managing 19 percent.
Since 2015, Burundi has been hit by political violence which was precipitated by Nkurunzinsa's attempt to remain in power.
At the bottom of the survey is Salva Kiir of South Sudan, whose leadership managed 2 percent, an indication of serious violation of human rights. The country has been in a civil war.
Neighbouring Somalia manageg 7 percent despite efforts by President Mohammed Abdullahi to restore order in a militant occupied nation.
The NGO conducted the survey in 195 countries where the Gambia was ranked as the most improved.