As conflict, terrorism and geopolitical tensions continue to weigh on global stability, a handful of African countries have managed to stand out as islands of peace.
- Global peacefulness has declined for the 15th time in 18 years, dropping by 0.7% in the last year according to the Global Peace Index 2026.
- Ongoing conflicts, rising geopolitical tensions, and record military spending are key drivers of instability worldwide.
- Sub-Saharan Africa’s peacefulness deteriorated slightly, now hosting eight of the world’s 20 least peaceful countries.
- West African countries such as The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Ghana rank among Africa’s top 10 most peaceful despite regional instability.
The world is becoming increasingly unstable, with global peacefulness declining for the 15th time in the last 18 years, according to the latest Global Peace Index (GPI) 2026 published by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP).
The report found that the average level of global peacefulness deteriorated by 0.7% over the past year, marking the 12th consecutive annual decline. Ongoing conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar, and the Sahel, alongside rising geopolitical tensions and record military spending, continue to weigh on global stability.
In 2025 alone, more than 181,000 people were killed in violent conflicts worldwide, while the number of forcibly displaced people remained above 117 million.
The deaths from internal conflict indicator recorded its largest deterioration since the inception of the index, driven largely by escalating violence in Sudan and persistent insecurity across several regions.
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Africa reflects this mixed picture. While parts of the continent continue to grapple with terrorism, insurgencies, and political instability, several countries have maintained relatively high levels of peace and security.
Speaking with Business Insider Africa, Thomas Morgan, Chief Research Officer at the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) and co-author of the Global Peace Index 2026, said that beyond the well-known drivers of instability in the Sahel, policymakers should closely monitor the potential impact of the Iran war on Africa’s security landscape.
“The one factor that is yet to play out, and that we’ll be watching most closely over the next three to six months, is the impact of the war in Iran,” Morgan told Business Insider Africa.
He cautioned that the conflict’s broader geopolitical and security consequences could eventually be felt across the African continent.
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“We may see that, in six months’ time, the full impact of the war in Iran begins to play out throughout Africa,” he said.
Africa’s peacefulness ranking
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded a slight deterioration in peacefulness in 2026, with the region’s average score worsening by 0.2%. The region is now home to eight of the world’s 20 least peaceful countries, compared to five in 2008, highlighting the growing impact of conflict, particularly across the Central Sahel.
Despite these challenges, a number of African nations continue to outperform their regional peers, benefiting from political stability, low levels of violent crime, stronger institutions, and limited involvement in armed conflicts.
Mauritius retained its position as Africa’s most peaceful country and ranked 18th globally, significantly ahead of every other African nation in the index. The island nation continues to benefit from political stability, strong institutions, and relatively low levels of internal conflict.
Equatorial Guinea emerged as the continent’s second most peaceful country, ranking 38th globally, while Botswana maintained its long-standing reputation for stability and good governance by securing third place in Africa.
West Africa was strongly represented in the rankings, with The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Ghana all making the top 10 despite the broader security challenges facing parts of the region.
Morgan noted that while terrorism-related deaths in the Sahel declined in 2025 for the first time in years, the region still accounts for more than half of global terrorism deaths, with groups such as JNIM evolving from insurgent movements into what he described as “quasi-state” entities controlling large territories and imposing economic blockades.
“There seems to be some suggestion that JNIM has now control of enough territory that it was switching tactics, moving towards economic blockades and fuel blockades of cities in Mali.” Morgan said.
Morgan argued that the Sahel’s pivot away from traditional security partners such as the United States, France, and the United Nations toward Russia’s Africa Corps has prioritized regime protection over counter-terrorism efforts, a shift he says has contributed to worsening extremist violence, particularly in Niger.
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“There was a shift towards Russia and a strong reliance on the Wagner Group, which was later renamed Africa Corps,” Morgan said.
According to him, the Russian-backed force placed greater emphasis on maintaining ruling governments than combating insurgent groups.
“Africa Corps was more focused on regime stability and regime continuity, and had less of an emphasis on counter-terrorism operations,” he noted, adding that there had been “too much of a focus on regime security and not enough on counter-terrorism.”
The rankings indicate that while conflict and insecurity remain pressing concerns across several parts of Africa, pockets of stability continue to provide examples of resilience and effective governance in an increasingly volatile world.
