Story by NATION Correspondent, NEW YORK
Publication Date: 5/4/2006
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The Failed States Index Rankings |
Kenya rose nine places, moving from the “critical” zone to the “danger” zone, in the 2006 “Failed States Index” published yesterday in a US foreign policy journal.
Kenya was ranked last year as the world’s 25th most vulnerable country in terms of likelihood of succumbing to violent internal conflict. It is now placed in the 34th position, having registered improvements in most of the 12 criteria used to measure state stability.
Enhanced effectiveness of government appears to be the key reason for Kenya’s rise in the ratings, a report accompanying the index suggests.
“Kenya managed to improve despite corruption scandals and a porous border with Somalia,” says the assessment carried out by Foreign Policy magazine and the Fund for Peace, a Washington-based think-tank. “Ultimately, it is clear that leadership, not location, matters most,” it said.
Sudan is rated as the country most likely to suffer collapse. Five other African states – Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe, Chad and Somalia – are listed among the 10 least stable countries.
Uganda, in 21st place, is judged to be at a higher risk of failure than Kenya. But Tanzania, ranked 71st, is viewed as the most stable East African country.
The United States is ranked 128th in the index of 146 countries. Norway is considered the world’s most stable country.
Source: Daily Nation, May 4, 2006
