The Global Peace Index (GPI) 2022 has ranked Mauritius, Ghana, and The Gambia as the three most peaceful countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Global Peace Index (GPI), compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), is the world’s leading measure of global peace. This report presents the most comprehensive data-based analysis to date of trends in peace, its economic value, and the development of peaceful societies.
According to the report, Sub-Saharan Africa is less peaceful than the global average in security and ongoing conflicts, but more peaceful than the global average in militarization.
Five coups d’état, disputes over election results and allegations of corruption have led to an increase in civil unrest and political instability across the region, leading to a 6.9% deterioration in the average indicator of political terror across the region.
Mauritius is the most peaceful country in the region, ranking 28th in the 2022 GPI. The country recorded a slight improvement of 1.3% in the GPI score. For the second year in a row, the country has witnessed an increase in violent demonstrations after citizens continued to protest the handling of an oil spill in August 2020 and allegations of corruption and fraud within the government.
On the other hand, South Sudan remains the least peaceful country in the region and one of the least peaceful countries in the world, despite an improvement in peace in the 2022 GPI. While the level of internal conflict in the country remains high, the number of deaths from conflict in 2022 by 15 percent.
The biggest improvement in tranquility in the region occurred in Zambia, which saw a 3.9% improvement in its GPI score. This was largely due to an improvement in Zambia’s relations with its neighbors and a 17 percent drop in military spending as a percentage of GDP.
In contrast, Burkina Faso experienced the second-largest decline in peace in the region, with deterioration in all three domains primarily impacted by a January 2022 coup. The military arrested President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, citing the deteriorating security situation due to the government’s inability to do so, citing the deepening Islamic insurgency as the reason for the action.
Also, read; Nigerian Governor Gifts Players Of State Team $20,000 Each For Winning League
Burkina Faso is also the third most affected country by terrorism in the 2022 Global Terrorism Index, as it recorded the second-highest number of deaths from terrorist attacks of any country in 2021.
Iceland remains the most peaceful country, a position it has held since 2008. At the top of the index are New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark, and Austria.
Afghanistan is the least peaceful country in the world for the fifth year in a row, followed by Yemen, Syria, Russia, and South Sudan. These countries have been among the ten least peaceful countries for three years.
