The Bloomberg Economics risk ranking published on October 5, 2026 names Mauritius the safest investment destination on the African continent, scoring 0.6 — ahead of South Africa (0.5) and Egypt (0.3). Nigeria records the biggest climb, gaining four places to reach 8th position.
Mauritius Leads a Tightly Bunched Field
Bloomberg Economics' 2026 investment risk ranking, released on October 5, gives Mauritius a score of 0.6, overtaking South Africa as the continent's top-ranked destination. Bloomberg describes the island as «the safest destination on the continent.» The top five spots go to Mauritius, South Africa (0.5), Egypt (0.3), Ghana (0.3) and Botswana (0.3) — a remarkably compressed field at the top.
Nigeria: The Standout Mover of 2026
The ranking's biggest signal comes from Nigeria, which gains four places to reach 8th — the largest single-edition jump in the panel. Bloomberg records a fiscal strength score of 0.6 and an economic strength score of 0.4 for Africa's most populous economy. External vulnerability remains elevated (1.4) and governance still drags (-1.2), but the reform path since 2023 is clearly delivering results.
A Converging Set of Rankings
Bloomberg's assessment confirms a trend already visible in the Rand Merchant Bank / GIBS report of October 2025, which also placed Mauritius and the Seychelles at the top of Africa's most attractive destinations. Botswana, long cited as a governance model (institutional score: 1.5), slips two places — a sign of intensifying regional competition. Egypt attracted $15 billion in foreign direct investment in 2025 according to UNCTAD, a reminder that rankings directly influence capital flows.
Why It Matters
For the Indian Ocean region, Mauritius being crowned Africa's top investment destination is more than an honorary title. It cements the Mauritian financial centre's role as the continent's gateway for international capital — a strategic position as Africa works to finance hundreds of billions in infrastructure and clean-energy transition. For economic actors in Réunion, Madagascar and the Comoros, Mauritius' growing attractiveness means both a valuable partner and heightened competitive pressure.
Source: Bloomberg Economics ranking, October 5, 2026, via La Nouvelle Tribune.