Sierra Leone has fallen 19 places in the 2024 Global Peace Index (GPI), dropping from 47th in 2023 to 66th out of 163 countries.
The Global Peace Index, compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), ranks countries based on peace and stability using 23 different factors, including political instability, terrorist activity, conflict-related deaths, and military expenditure. In 2024, Sierra Leone scored 1.993, placing it 66th globally.
Sierra Leone’s decline is attributed to political instability and violence following the contested June 2023 presidential election, a parliamentary boycott, and an attack on a military barracks and prison in Freetown in November. Additionally, the country’s worsening economic situation in 2023 has adversely affected food security.
The June 2023 presidential election results were disputed by the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC), alleging that the process was marred by electoral inconsistencies and rigging. This led to a parliamentary boycott and challenges to President Julius Maada Bio’s legitimacy. In November 2023, gunmen attacked a military barracks and prison in Freetown, raising fears of a return to the country’s turbulent past.
The economic downturn in 2023 further exacerbated the situation, creating severe food security concerns, 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 noted the largest decline in global peacefulness since its inception in 2008, driven primarily by conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, with 97 countries experiencing reduced peacefulness.
