Terrorism in the Central Sahel a major concern
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Terrorism in the Central Sahel a major concern
The 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI) makes for interesting reading.
The GPI measures and ranks 163 countries around the world in terms of peace and stability. The report is published annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), an international think tank.
Rankings are based on societal safety, ongoing conflict, and militarisation using 23 indicators,
According to the GPI Sub-Saharan Africa recorded a deterioration in “peacefulness”, with the average score in the region deteriorating by 0.17 per cent over the past year.
The GPI data suggests that three of the ten least peaceful countries in the world are found in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Crisis in Central Sahel
It notes specifically the security crises and political unrest and terrorism in the Central Sahel region.
“Burkina Faso has the highest terrorism impact in the world, and six of the ten countries with the highest terrorism impact are in sub-Saharan Africa.”
In the past five years, 36 of the 44 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have had some level of involvement in at least one external conflict.
Mauritius is the most peaceful country in sub-Saharan Africa for the 18th consecutive year. It recorded a small deterioration in overall peacefulness of 1.5 per cent, owing to deteriorations in the militarisation and safety and security domains.
DRC remains high risk
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the least peaceful country in the region and also recorded the region’s largest deterioration in overall peacefulness.
“The DRC ranks in the five least peaceful countries in the world in the 2025 GPI. Over the past year, the country recorded deteriorations in all three GPI domains and an overall reduction of peacefulness of 4.5 per cent.
“The country is currently engaged in a war with the March 23 Movement (M23), which is said to be supported by Rwandan forces. The UN estimates that there are between 3,000-4,000 Rwandan troops currently operating in the DRC, fighting alongside M23 rebels against government forces.”
Surprises in southern Africa
Botswana, Namibia and Zambia are the highest ranked southern African countries. Botswana and Namibia rank two and three after Mauritius across the whole African continent while Zambia ranks number eight.
South Africa’s regional rating is below that of Mozambique, Angola and Zimbabwe. South Africa is ranked at 29, a position which puts it in the 124th spot on the global rankings.
Image: The image was taken while driving through a village in the North Kivu Province of the DRC. North Kivu is a flashpoint in the ongoing conflict in the east of the DRC. Image credit: Leon Louw for WhyAfrica
Terrorism in the Central Sahel a major concern