Leading African countries with the highest level of police professionalism

By Osoro Nyawangah, MWANZA Tanzania 

The professionalism of police forces across Africa has long been a subject of scrutiny, given their critical role in maintaining law and order, enforcing legislation, and protecting citizens’ rights.

Tanzania police thwarted demonstrations that had been planned by country's main opposition  party (Chadema) in 2024.

Despite some progress, many countries continue to grapple with challenges such as corruption, excessive use of force, and lack of accountability, which erode public trust.

However, many African countries face challenges in ensuring that their police services meet international standards of professionalism, which are vital for upholding justice, human rights, and the trust.

One of the key challenges to police professionalism in Africa is corruption.

In several countries, police officers are often seen as part of a larger system of patronage or are expected to accept bribes. 

Consequently, citizens may view the police not as protectors of the law but as part of the problem itself.

Despite challenges, some African police forces have made significant strides toward professionalism.

An Afrobarometer report conducted between 2021 and 2023 revealed that only one in three Africans say their police usually operate in a professional manner and respect citizens’ rights.

The survey covering 39 African countries sheds light on the challenges many Africans face when seeking the protection that law enforcement agencies are supposed to offer.

Among respondents who sought police assistance during the year in review, 54% said it was easy to get the help they needed, but 36% said they had to pay a bribe.

According to the report, Burkina Faso (68%), Morocco (64%), and Benin (61%) score highest on the professionalism dimension while achieving moderate (Burkina Faso and Morocco) to high (Benin) scores on the corruption measure (i.e. moderate to low levels of corruption).

In contrast, Sudan (30%), Sierra Leone (30%), Gabon (29%), and Congo-Brazzaville (28%) score worst on professionalism while also showing moderate to poor scores in terms of corruption and police brutality.

Below are the 10 African countries with the highest level of police professionalism:

Rank	Country	Professionalism
1	Burkina Faso	68%
2	Morocco	64%
3	Benin	61%
4	Mauritius	59%
5	Niger	58%
6	Senegal	56%
7	Mauritania	54%
8	Mali	53%
9	Tanzania	53%
10	Botswana	49%