Increased conflict, militarisation, and displacement continue to affect millions of people, with three of the world’s ten least peaceful countries in 2025, South Sudan, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, located in Sub-Saharan Africa.
While some African nations are making progress in governance and development, the region overall experienced a deterioration in peacefulness over the past year, according to the Global Peace Index 2025.
Speaking at the Africa launch event at the Australian High Commission in Kenya, Dr Dan Odaba, IEP’s East & Southern Africa Director, emphasised the need for sustained investment in peacebuilding: “Investing in Positive Peace is critical,” Dr Odaba said. “This means strengthening the attitudes, institutions and structures that create and sustain peaceful societies. Only through long-term strategies can countries in the region reduce the drivers of instability and adapt to global pressures.”
“Investing in Positive Peace is critical.” Dr Dan Odaba – IEP East & Southern Africa Director
The Global Peace Index is produced annually by the Institute for Economics & Peace. It measures peace in 163 countries, covering 99.7% of the world’s population, and assesses societal safety and security, ongoing conflict, and militarisation. It remains a trusted resource for policymakers, researchers and civil society organisations.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) experienced the fourth largest deterioration in peacefulness on the 2025 GPI dropping three places to rank 160th. The decline in peacefulness in the DRC was driven by the current war between government forces and March 23 Movement (M23), a Rwandan-backed rebel group led by ethnic Tutsis.
Africa is also home to three of the five conflict escalation hotspots identified in GPI 2025 – Kashmir, Syria, the DRC, South Sudan and Ethiopia-Eritrea – with the highest risk of substantially worsening.
However, The Gambia was the fifth most improved country in GPI 2025, improving 16 places. The Gambia is now the fourth most peaceful country in sub-Saharan Africa, behind only Mauritius, Botswana, and Namibia.
External pressures are compounding these challenges. Globally, the number of active state-based conflicts has reached 59, the highest since the Second World War. Military expenditure as a percentage of GDP recorded its second-largest annual deterioration since the index began, with 84 countries increasing defence budgets.
There was a sixth consecutive year of declining peacefulness worldwide. The average level of peacefulness fell by 0.36% over the past year, with 87 countries deteriorating and only 74 improving, while the number of states engaged in external conflicts has surged from 59 in 2008 to 98 in 2024.
“The concept of ‘forever wars’ is more real than at any stage in history.” Steve Killelea – IEP Founder and Executive Chairman
Steve Killelea, IEP’s Founder and Executive Chairman, warned of the implications of a continued deterioration in peacefulness and rise in unresolved conflict.
“The concept of ‘forever wars’ is more real than at any stage in history,” Killelea said.
“Global fragmentation is dramatically increasing, driven by the rise of middle-level powers, major power competition, and unsustainable debt burdens in fragile states. This is leading to a fundamental realignment and a possible tipping point to a new international order, the nature of which still can’t be fathomed.”
These global trends are amplifying security concerns across Africa.
IEP’s Positive Peace framework provides a roadmap for long-term stability. Comprising eight interconnected pillars, including well-functioning governments, low corruption, high human capital, and equitable resource distribution. Positive Peace strengthens a country’s capacity to prevent conflict and absorb external shocks.
Dr Odaba noted that fostering these conditions is especially critical for regions facing both internal challenges and external pressures:
“The evidence is clear that higher levels of Positive Peace correlate with stronger resilience to conflict and economic volatility,” he said.
“It is up to all of us to ask how we can use our power, our influence, our networks, and our capabilities to avert catastrophic conflict.” H.E. Jenny Da Rin – Australian High Commissioner to Kenya
H.E. Jenny Da Rin, Australian High Commissioner to Kenya, reinforced the role of collective action:
“It is up to all of us to ask how we can use our power, our influence, our networks, and our capabilities to avert catastrophic conflict,” she said. “From our region in the Indo-Pacific to Africa and beyond, Australia has worked consistently – often quietly, but steadfastly – to support peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and good governance.”
Rising conflict deaths, accelerating geopolitical tensions, and middle power assertiveness are driving ‘The Great Fragmentation’ – a...
The Global Peace Index 2025 highlights a set of critical escalation hotspots, regions where conflict risks are accelerating and could evolve into...
Identifying and measuring the factors that drive peace
Analysing the factors that sustain peace.
