Sudan,Chad ,Sudan and Zimbabwe are topping the Failed States Index(FSI) 2010 released by The Fund for Peace.It is worth mentioning that seven out of the top 10 failed states are from Africa.177 countries are covered in the index.

FSI grouped the countries into four categories namely;Alert(In red),Warning(In orange),Moderate(yellow) and Sustainable(Green).22 out of the 37 countries in the Alert(In red) category are from Africa.These include countries that are still in conflict or post-conflict like Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC),Sierra Leone and Kenya.

The Failed States Index(FSI) focuses on the indicators of risk divided into three categories;Social,Economic and Political.Under social indicators, FSI looks at chronic and sustained human flight,mounting demographic pressures,massive movements of refugees/Internally Displaced Persons creating complex humanitarian emergencies and a legacy of vengeance.

On Economic Indicators, FSI looks at uneven economic development along group lines and sharp and/or severe economic decline.While on Political,it focuses on criminalisation and/or delegitimisation of the State,progressive deterioration of public services and suspension or arbitrary application of the rule of law and widespread violation of human rights.

It also looks at security apparatus that operates as a "State Within a State," rise of factionalized elites and Intervention of other states or external political actors.World powers like Russia,United States of America(USA), United Kingdom(UK), Germany,Japan and China didn't make it to the 13 most peaceful countries in the world.

'Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was indirectly elected President of Somalia in January 2009 but has been ineffective at controlling corruption and alleviating civil violence and conflicts among clans within the Somali population.' Writes The Peace Fund regarding Somalia.

Sweden,Finland and Norway emerged as the most peaceful countries in the world this year at number 175,176, and 177 respectively.So Norway at no 177,is the most peaceful country in the world.

No African country made it to the 13 most peaceful countries in the world.Mauritius is the only country at number 150 falling under moderate(In yellow) thus making it the most peaceful country in Africa followed by Ghana and Tunisia.

The Fund for Peace releases the FSI every year.

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