- Island nations such as Mauritius and Madagascar continue to record some of the continent’s lowest safety index scores, reflecting cohesive governance and stable institutions.
- Southern Africa remains a focal point of stability, with countries such as Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia translating resource-backed governance into long-term improvements in policing and judicial reforms.
- Security rankings in Africa now extend beyond perception, directly shaping tourism flows, diaspora investment, and regional influence in ways that reposition the continent globally.
Deep Dive!!
Lagos, Nigeria, Wednesday, October 3 – Africa’s safety landscape in 2025 is defined by measurable contrasts, with several nations emerging as continental leaders in stability and security. While conflict regions often dominate headlines, data from the Global Peace Index and the Africa Safety Index highlight countries where crime perception scores remain below global averages.
These states demonstrate that, through consistent reforms, effective policing, and social cohesion, African nations are achieving safety outcomes comparable to some of the world’s most stable regions.
The foundations of these gains lie in deliberate state reforms and regional cooperation rather than isolated efforts. Governments are strengthening professional policing and border security, while judicial reforms are enhancing accountability and reinforcing trust in public institutions.
Technology also plays an increasingly significant role, with digital identity systems reducing fraud and advanced surveillance tools being deployed across major urban centers. Regional blocs such as ECOWAS and SADC are coordinating cross-border security measures, limiting the spillover of conflicts and organized crime.
These reforms matter because, beyond reducing crime, they create predictability and institutional trust that international partners, investors, and tourists increasingly demand. When combined with social programs that tackle unemployment and strengthen community resilience, these structural improvements establish environments where safety directly translates into economic opportunity.
This explains why safety now functions as a measurable economic asset across Africa. Stability guides the flow of tourism, attracts foreign investment, and strengthens regional influence in trade and diplomacy. With the UNWTO projecting more than 80 million tourist arrivals to the continent in 2025, the link between secure environments and economic growth is clear.
This ranking of Africa’s ten safest countries highlights the countries that are not only maintaining order but also converting security into long-term opportunity, offering lessons for the continent’s broader path to resilience and competitiveness.
10. Angola
Angola secures the tenth spot on the 2025 safety ranking with a score of 2.043, reflecting steady improvements in stability since the end of its decades-long civil war in 2002. According to the Global Peace Index, Angola has climbed gradually from the “high risk” category two decades ago to a mid-tier African performer today, ahead of many resource-driven economies with similar post-conflict legacies. While crime remains present in major urban centers like Luanda, violent incidents have declined, and the state’s monopoly over security has been largely consolidated, making Angola safer for both its citizens and foreign visitors.
Angola’s safety profile is heavily tied to the role of its armed forces and police institutions. The Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) remain one of the largest and best-equipped militaries in sub-Saharan Africa, not only providing border protection but also acting as a stabilizing domestic presence. The National Police, under the Ministry of Interior, have expanded patrols in Luanda and provincial capitals, focusing on reducing theft, carjacking, and gang activity that previously shaped Angola’s urban crime narrative. Road safety enforcement has also been prioritized, with the government increasing checkpoints along national highways linking oil hubs, mining sites, and ports. Angola’s relative calm is often attributed to the strength of its central state institutions, which maintain strict oversight, but this comes at the cost of limited political freedoms, a trade-off that observers see as part of its security equation.
Reforms and international cooperation are key to Angola’s forward momentum. The government has partnered with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to modernize policing methods, introduce community-based crime reporting systems, and curb cross-border trafficking in the Cabinda and Cunene regions. Angola’s growing role as a petroleum and diamond exporter has also incentivized the state to maintain investor confidence, with safety measures rolled out in free trade zones, industrial corridors, and major transport hubs. Tourism remains relatively small compared to peers, but niche sectors like eco-tourism in Kissama National Park and cultural tourism in Benguela are expanding, supported by targeted safety campaigns. In 2025, Angola’s progress reflects not only its post-war consolidation but also its effort to align domestic safety with international economic ambitions, allowing it to position itself as one of Africa’s rising secure environments despite structural socio-economic challenges.
9. Liberia
Liberia’s inclusion in the 2025 safety rankings, with a score of 2.040, reflects how far the nation has come since the end of its civil wars two decades ago. Once a hotspot of instability, Liberia has built one of West Africa’s more resilient peace stories, turning lessons from its past into the foundation for sustained security and stability. Peaceful transitions of power, strengthened democratic institutions, and a population committed to never returning to conflict have established Liberia as a model of post-war recovery on the continent.
Central to this transformation has been the rebuilding of state security institutions. The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), restructured after 2003 with international support, now operate as a disciplined and professional unit focused on national defense and humanitarian support. The Liberia National Police (LNP) has expanded community policing programs across the country, giving citizens greater trust in law enforcement and reducing the reliance on informal dispute resolution. Border security has also been tightened, with enhanced cooperation with neighboring countries ensuring that Liberia no longer serves as a spillover point for regional instability.
Liberia’s safety record is further reinforced by its international partnerships. The legacy of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), which oversaw 15 years of peacekeeping until its conclusion in 2018, created strong security foundations. Today, Liberia benefits from U.S., ECOWAS, and AU-backed training and capacity-building programs that continue to strengthen its defense and police forces. These efforts have made the country a secure environment not just for its citizens, but also for international investors and visitors.
The country’s improved safety is opening doors in multiple sectors. Liberia is home to one of the world’s largest shipping registries, a system that thrives on the perception of reliability and order. In tourism, destinations such as Robertsport, famous for surfing, and the Sapo National Park, home to West Africa’s rainforest biodiversity, are marketed with confidence in safety. The government has also made strides in digital security and anti-corruption measures, positioning Liberia as a safe environment for both physical and financial transactions.
By 2025, Liberia’s ranking confirms that it is not just peaceful but actively consolidating its security gains. Its ability to remain stable in a historically fragile region demonstrates the effectiveness of long-term reforms, community-driven peacebuilding, and strong international partnerships. For investors, travelers, and Liberians themselves, safety is no longer seen as a fragile achievement but as a sustained national asset.
8. Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone ranks 8th in Africa with a safety index score of 1.993, reflecting substantial progress in political stability, crime reduction, and social cohesion. The country has steadily improved its security infrastructure since the end of its civil war in 2002, demonstrating that sustained reforms and community engagement can produce measurable safety outcomes. Urban centers such as Freetown and Bo benefit from structured policing strategies and coordinated community programs that reduce crime perception and strengthen public confidence in law enforcement.
The foundation of Sierra Leone’s safety improvements lies in comprehensive institutional reforms. In July 2025, the government enacted a new Criminal Procedure Act, designed to reduce judicial backlogs, curb corruption, and promote alternative dispute resolution. These reforms, alongside the professionalization of the Sierra Leone Police and targeted training programs funded in part by international partners such as the United Nations and European Union, have enhanced both operational efficiency and accountability. At the same time, digital reporting systems and community policing platforms have increased transparency and public engagement in safety initiatives.
Sierra Leone also leverages regional and international collaboration to reinforce security. Active participation in the Mano River Union and the African Union’s peace initiatives allows for coordinated cross-border operations, limiting the spread of organized crime and trafficking networks. Combined with community development programs targeting youth engagement and employment, these measures not only reduce crime but also foster resilience and social cohesion. While infrastructure gaps remain in rural areas, Sierra Leone’s deliberate reforms, strategic partnerships, and focus on…
