SOMALIA, ruined by civil war and foreign invasion, is considered the worst example of a collapsed country, according to an annual index of failed states produced by Foreign Policy* magazine and the Fund for Peace, a research organisation. The top four spots on the index are all occupied by African countries, with last year's leader, Sudan, falling a place. Africa is also heavily represented in the top 20, a list made up of enduring basket cases. Each country is given a score for a dozen political, military, social and economic indicators; the more unstable a country, the higher its total score. Zimbabwe has gained a place since last year and, given the current turmoil, could see its prospects worsen again.

AFP





Based on information from Foreign Policy (July/August 2008).