Governance across Africa has improved little over the past decade as deteriorating safety and rule of law have held back progress in other areas such as human rights or economic opportunities. This is according to the Ibrahim Index of African Governance - the most comprehensive survey of its kind on the continent - which rates 54 African nations against criteria such as security, human rights, economic stability, just laws, free elections, corruption, infrastructure, poverty, health and education.Mauritius held onto its top spot, followed by Botswana, Cape Verde, the Seychelles and Namibia, while South Africa was in sixth place.While overall the index has improved by just one point over the 10-year period starting in 2006, three out of the top 10 countries have seen their score fall in this period, and major economies like South Africa and Ghana registered some of the largest deterioration.The survey found almost half of Africa's 54 countries recorded their worst score in the past three years in the safety, rule of law category, which measures personal safety, national security, accountability and the judicial system."Today, current opinion focuses on the potential aftershock of deflating commodity prices and third- term challengers to democracy ... What is striking is that these are not the areas which demand the most attention," Sudanese businessman Mo Ibrahim wrote in the annual report compiled by his foundation and aimed at promoting better governance and economic development."... This is holding back the continent's progress and remains the biggest challenge to its future." Among the top 10 overall rated countries, six had deteriorated over the past decade in that category with South Africa registering the largest decline in a "concerning negative trend".South Africa has been on the edge of recession, suffering power shortages and high unemployment with voters frustrated with President Jacob Zuma and the ANC. ..