While the rule of law has continued to weaken in a majority of countries, in Sub-Saharan Africa, the rule of law varies widely from country to country. Some countries have made significant progress in promoting the rule of law, while others continue to struggle.
The World Justice Project (WJP) ranked countries based on eight key factors: constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice, and criminal justice.
The report also noted that the index is a composite measure, with significant variation within countries on each of the eight factors. For example, while Rwanda ranks first overall, it ranks 62nd for fundamental rights.
Here is a list of the top 10 and bottom 10 Sub-Saharan African countries on the 2023 WJP Rule of Law Index:
Rwanda
Namibia
Mauritius
Botswana
South Africa
Senegal
Ghana
Malawi
Tunisia
The Gambia
Mauritania
Cameroon
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Burundi
Equatorial Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Somalia
Eritrea
South Sudan
Central African Republic