The African Union (AU) Commission on Sunday declared six of its member states as the "worst performing Governments" for not ratifying various treaties, protocols, and conventions.

The shamed countries include Sao Tome, Somalia, Eritrea, Sahrawi, Central African Republic and Cape Verde.

According to available AU documents, out of 43 instruments Sao Tome ratified only five, while Somalia and Eritrea ratified six each, Sahrawi (10), Central Africa (11), and Cape Verde (11).

The six "Best Performing governments" according to the document are Mali (which ratified 33 instruments), Rwanda (30), Niger (30), Libya (29), Senegal (27) and Burkina Faso (27).

Burkina Faso, Zambia, Gabon and Rwanda were commended as having recorded the "best government progress" in instrument ratification over the last 18 months.

But not a single member state has ratified the Constitution of the African Civil Aviation Commission (2009), Revised African Maritime Transport Charter.

The Constitutive Act of the African Union (2002) and African Charter on Human and People's Rights (1981) were ratified by 53 member states.

South Sudan, the AU's newest member is the only exception.