Botswana Tops Africa in 2025 Global Peace Rankings Amid Growing Unrest

Botswana has emerged as Africa’s most peaceful country in the 2025 Global Peace Index, ranking 43rd globally, followed by Namibia at 50 and The Gambia at 55.

In total, 18 African nations placed in the top 100, a strong performance even as global peacefulness declined for a sixth straight year.

However, not every African nation shared in this stability. Kenya, once thought to be advancing, slipped outside the top 100—ranking 127th—as simmering political and economic discontent erupted into fierce unrest last year.

Protests that flared over a controversial finance bill in 2024—with demonstrators calling for regime change and an end to austerity measures—paled in comparison to the upheaval of 2025.

This year’s igniting event came with the death of popular blogger and teacher Albert Omondi Ojwang while in police custody.

His death galvanized Gen-Z–led demonstrations across Nairobi and other cities.

Young protestors, demanding an end to corruption and accountability for police violence, clashed with security forces in the most sustained demonstrations Kenya has seen since independence.

The unrest underscored widespread frustration over economic hardship and governance failures.

Meanwhile, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, violence has undermined attempts to restore peace in eastern provinces.

The M23 rebel group, backed (or allegedly backed) by neighboring forces, has continued its territorial gains despite diplomatic efforts.

While Congolese authorities and the rebels signed a declaration of principles in hopes of ceasing hostilities this summer, attacks on civilians—including the killing of dozens in South Kivu—have threatened to derail the fragile truce.

In the capital Kinshasa, public fury over the conflict in the east spilled onto the streets, with protesters venting their resentment toward foreign governments perceived as complicit.

Several embassies, including those of the United States, France, Belgium, Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda, were vandalised or set aflame in violent riots, laying bare the depth of public outrage.

Globally, the 2025 index painted a darker picture: the average level of peacefulness slipped by 0.36 percy from the previous year, marking the 13th decline in the last 17 years.

While 74 countries registered improvements, 87 experienced deteriorations, signaling widespread disruptions.

European and Asian nations continued to dominate the peace rankings. Iceland retained the top spot for the 18th straight year, followed by Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Switzerland, Singapore, Portugal, Denmark, Slovenia, and Finland.

Although parts of Africa showed promising stability, the violent episodes in Kenya and the DRC highlight mounting challenges—driven by economic strain, political exclusion, and intensifying armed conflict—that threaten to unravel years of progress.

gandae@businessdayafrica.org