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.
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.
