East and central African countries have once again ranked poorly in a Washington-based think tank's annual rating of countries' susceptibility to instability.

South Sudan returned to position one as the most troubled country from position two while Ethiopia recorded the greatest worsening globally over 2016, according to Fragile States Index 2017.

Somalia was the second most troubled country of the 178 states that were ranked, followed by Central African Republic at position three. Sudan was fifth, Democratic Republic of Congo seventh and Burundi 17th.

Kenya was ranked at position 22, Uganda 24, Rwanda 34 and Tanzania was the most stable at position 65.