Alice Umutesi
Rwanda has been ranked first in Sub-Saharan Africa in the 2026 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index.
Globally, the country placed 40th among 143 countries and jurisdictions assessed, scoring 0.64, an increase of less than one per cent from the previous year, according to the index released on October 21.
Rwanda was followed regionally by Namibia and Mauritius. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, 23 of the 34 countries assessed recorded declines in their scores over the past year.
Denmark topped the global rankings, followed by Norway, Finland, Sweden and Luxembourg.
ALSO READ:Rwanda leads Africa in rule of law, report says
The index measures how well countries uphold the rule of law in practice, including whether government powers are checked, corruption is controlled, fundamental rights are protected, security is maintained and people can access civil and criminal justice.
It draws on household surveys and assessments by legal practitioners and other experts. The 2026 edition covers countries and jurisdictions representing about 95 per cent of the world’s population.
Rwanda ranked first in Sub-Saharan Africa for absence of corruption; order and security; regulatory enforcement; and civil justice. Globally, it placed 28th for order and security, 29th for absence of corruption, 31st for civil justice, and 36th for regulatory enforcement and criminal justice.
ALSO READ: How Judiciary plans to plug loopholes fueling corruption
The country also ranked 40th globally for constraints on government powers, 51st for open government and 71st for fundamental rights. At the regional level, it placed second for criminal justice, third for constraints on government powers and open government, and eighth for fundamental rights.
Among 15 low-income countries assessed, Rwanda ranked first in seven of the eight factors, placing second for fundamental rights.
Freedoms and justice
The report found that freedoms linked to civic space, public debate and government oversight declined in many countries. Freedom of opinion and expression declined in 64 per cent of countries assessed, while civic participation fell in 65 per cent. Rwanda was not among the countries recording declines in either area.
However, freedom of assembly and association declined in 67 per cent of countries, including Rwanda.
Across justice systems, civil justice weakened in 64 per cent of countries and criminal justice in 58 per cent, with undue government influence identified as a key factor.
Government powers limited by the judiciary also declined in 63 per cent of countries, although Rwanda was not among them.
Access to affordable civil justice improved in 54 per cent of countries, while protection against discrimination in civil justice improved in 52 per cent. Rwanda was not among the countries recording improvements in either measure.
newtimes.co.rw
