Africa must tackle birth control 'taboo' - philanthropist Mo Ibrahim

African countries must cut their booming birth rate and provide secure jobs for young people or risk a rise in conflict and militant groups, Sudanese billionaire philanthropist Mo Ibrahim has warned.

Leaders across the continent need to tackle a "taboo" against birth control and ensure their youth have prospects, he said as he launched his foundation's annual index showing the state of governance across 54 African countries.

"We see the risks – we can see the rise in armed groups (like) Boko Haram and Al Shabaab," he said, referring to Islamist militants in northern Nigeria and Somalia.

"It isn't a coincidence, it's linked to dissatisfaction arising from a number of factors, most importantly lack of hope when young people can't see a future," he told Reuters in London.

The index report found governance is slowly improving.