A global report by the World Justice Project (WJP) ranking countries by the measure of their application of the rule of law has seen the Democratic Republic of Congo emerge with a dismal score on the African continent while also placing the country poorly on the global scale.
In Africa, Congo is the worst performer insofar as the rule of law is concerned whereas globally, the country ranks 138 out of 146 countries surveyed. 
The World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index® is the world’s leading source for original, independent data on the rule of law and covers 142 countries and jurisdictions.
According to Business Insider, the Index relies on more than 149,000 household surveys and 3,400 legal practitioners and expert surveys to measure how the rule of law is experienced and perceived worldwide.
The report has been published annually since 2009 and is subject to a rigorous methodology. The Index is used by governments, multilateral organizations, businesses, academia, media, and civil society organizations around the world to assess and address gaps in the rule of law.
The 2023 report also noted that the index is a composite measure, with significant variation within countries on each of the eight factors. For example, while Rwanda ranks first overall, it ranks 62nd for fundamental rights.
The overall top three performing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are Rwanda, Namibia, and Mauritius while the worst three are Mauritania, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The World Justice Project defines the rule of law as a durable system of laws, institutions, norms, and community commitment that deliver: Accountability, Open Government, Just Law, and Accessible and Impartial Justice.
“While the rule of law has continued to weaken in a majority of countries, in Sub-Saharan Africa, the rule of law varies widely from country to country. Some countries have made significant progress in promoting the rule of law, while others continue to struggle,” the report states.
In the current setting, the World Justice Project (WJP) ranked countries based on eight key factors: constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice, and criminal justice.
Globally, Congo only betters Haiti, Afghanistan, Cambodia & Venezuela.
TOP TEN AFRICAN COUNTRIES
Rwanda
Namibia
Mauritius
Botswana
South Africa
Senegal
Ghana
Malawi
Tunisia
The Gambia
WORST TEN COUNTRIES
Mauritania
Cameroon
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Burundi
Equatorial Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Somalia
Eritrea
South Sudan
Central African Republic
CREDIT: Business Insider
