Sierra Leone Drops in GPI Rating
Sierra Leone has dropped from 47th in 2023 to 66th in 2024 out of 163 countries in the Global Peace Index; wherein the country scored 1.993 and ranked 66 out of 163 countries.
The decline in the 2024 Global Peace Index can be attributed to the political instability, the disputed June 2023 presidential election, boycott of parliament and the attempted coup in November 2023. The ranking is based on 23 different factors, including political instability, terrorist activity, deaths from conflict, and military expenditure.
The Global Peace Index is a global list of countries ranked by peace and stability from the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).
In November 2023, gunmen attacked a military barracks and prison in Freetown, the capital. This upsurge in violence raised fears of a return to the country’s dark past of civil war.
Similarly, the year 2023 also saw a worsening economic situation in Sierra Leone. This, coupled with political instability, created a precarious situation for food security, as highlighted by the World Food Programme.
Iceland remains the most peaceful country for the 16th consecutive year, followed by Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, and Singapore. Yemen has replaced Afghanistan as the least peaceful country, followed by Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.
The 2024 GPI recorded the largest deterioration in peacefulness since its inception in 2008, driven primarily by conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, with 97 countries experiencing decreased peacefulness.
The report reveals that there are currently 56 conflicts ongoing, marking the highest number since World War 11. These conflicts have taken on an increasingly international dimension, with 92 countries involved in conflict beyond their borders, the most since the inception of the GPI.
