South Sudan has been ranked as number four in this year’s failed state index 2013, which is compiled by the U.S based Fund for Peace and Foreign Policy organization.

Somalia tops the index as the worst failed state, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan.

The annual report looks at security, development, economic and political pressures faced by each of the countries that are analyzed.

The report says independence has failed to provide the South Sudanese population with a relief from conflict with continued tensions over land and resources.

It noted that billions of public funds were stolen or were unaccounted for by mid-2012 alone.

The index said South Sudan was at fourth place – the most unstable and critical stage – due to the armed conflict with Sudan over oil rights, and over accusations of gross human rights violations including rape, torture, and execution by the government and rebel groups.

The report further highlighted on the state of media freedom where a notable journalist, Isaiah Abraham was killed after speaking out against government-sponsored corruption and violence.

In the rest of Africa – Kenya is ranked at number 17 – above Nigeria and just below Niger due to a culture of impunity, land grievances, corruption, ethnic tensions, weak institutions and regional and socio-economic inequality that are yet to be addressed.

Uganda is placed in the 22nd position, while Tanzania is listed 65th, which is said to make it slightly more stable than both Israel and China.

However, the Fund for Peace organization says though it is called the Failed States Index, it is not to say that every country on the Failed State Index is a failed state, but most at risk of total failure.”

The Failed States Index focuses on the indicators of risk and is based on thousands of articles and reports that are processed by software from electronically available sources.