Botswana ranked as Africa's most peaceful nation

Monday, 15 June 2009

Botswana, Malawi and Gabon have been ranked as the most peaceful countries in Africa, in the 2009 Global Peace Index (GPI) compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace.

Gaborone, Botswana's capitol, city centre

The report placed Botswana 34th, out of 144 countries surveyed, with Malawi and Gabon being ranked at 47 and 51 respectively.

In terms of peace and stability the report places Botswana ahead of such countries as the United Kingdom, Italy and the United States.

The report cites Botswana's strong electoral system, high civil liberties and lack of internal / external conflict as the key drivers behind her stability.

Malawi has received praise in recent weeks for the successful elections held in May of this year. The study ratifies these sentiments, with Malawi having moved up from a position of 73 in last years study.

"As a result of minimal militarisation, an absence of external or internal conflicts and relatively low scores for most measures of safety and security... Malawi is in the top 50 (countries)," said the Institute for Economics and Peace in a statement.

Other countries that have made strides in developing peace include Ghana, Mozambique, Zambia, Rwanda and Tanzania, all of which have remained in the top 100 most peaceful nations.

"Africa has transformed in my lifetime and the progress reached so far is proof that concrete achievements are possible amidst adversity," said Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General, speaking at the World Economic Forum last week.

In the study Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sudan and Somalia all fall within the last 20% of the Peace Index, and as such represent the most unstable countries on the continent..

"The GPI has been tested against a range of potential "drivers" or potential determinants of peace - including levels of democracy and transparency, education and material wellbeing," said the report. "The GPI brings a snapshot of relative peacefulness among nations while continuing to contribute to an understanding of what factors help create or sustain more peaceful societies."

The GPI is collated and calculated by the Economist Intelligence Unit, who also helped compile the report. The research is conducted by an international panel of experts, including academics, business leaders and the heads of civil and public institutions.