November 1, 2025: Sierra Leone has emerged as a global outlier in the 2025 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index, registering a rare improvement in its score amid a widespread global downturn. While 68% of countries saw declines in their rule of law performance, marking the eighth consecutive year of global regression, Sierra Leone bucked the trend with a 1.4% increase, moving from 0.43 to 0.44 and climbing to 109th out of 143 countries.
Regional and Global Highlights:
- Sierra Leone is one of only eight African nations to improve in 2025, joining Senegal and Gabon.
- It now ranks 20th in Africa, ahead of Guinea and Nigeria, and on par with Liberia.
- Among low-income countries globally, Sierra Leone remains in the top seven for rule of law performance.
Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay Esq. hailed the achievement as a reflection of the government’s sustained efforts in justice sector reform:
“This progress reflects our government’s steady investment in justice reform, anti-corruption enforcement, and access to justice. We are building a legal system that protects rights, upholds accountability, and serves the people.”
Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah emphasized the significance of Sierra Leone’s upward trajectory: “At a time when nearly seven in ten countries are slipping, Sierra Leone is improving. That is not luck — it’s the outcome of consistent reforms and political will.”
The WJP Rule of Law Index evaluates how people experience justice, accountability, and security in their daily lives. Sierra Leone’s improved score indicates growing public confidence in institutions and a strengthening of its democratic foundation.