Retraction Trends in Sub-Saharan Africa (2000–2024): A Multidisciplinary Analysis of Retraction Reasons, Collaboration Patterns, and Publishing Characteristics

Abstract Purpose This study analyzes 25 years of retraction trends in Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on underlying reasons, publisher involvement, disciplinary patterns, authorship characteristics, and country-level distributions. Design/methodology/approach The whole database of Retraction Watch was downloaded into a spreadsheet file. Retraction data for all 46 countries in the Sub-Saharan African region was extracted Publication data of all 46 countries in the Sub-Saharan African region was retrieved from Web of Science to calculate retractions rate (i.e. retractions per 1,000 articles). Findings Approximately 75 % of retracted papers from Sub-Saharan Africa involved international collaboration based on Retraction Watch data. Ethiopia leads in total retractions, accounting for about half of all retractions from the region. India, Saudi Arabia, and China emerged as the most prolific external contributor to retractions from Sub-Saharan Africa. Compromised peer review, unethical generative AI use and paper mills emerged as major concerns by 2023. Research limitations The analysis relies on data from Retraction Watch and Web of Science, which may not capture all retractions, especially those from local Sub-Saharan African journals that are not indexed in international databases. Secondly, retraction records are often delayed relative to publication dates, potentially skewing 2024 trends. Practical implications In practice, emerging patterns indicate a growing crisis in research integrity, marked by the rise of new retraction categories over the past three years—such as paper mills, peer review compromise, and unethical use of generative AI—and a sharp increase in longstanding issues like plagiarism. Originality/value This study offers a comprehensive analysis of retractions in Sub-Saharan Africa, addressing a significant gap in the literature. Besides, covering a 25-year period and examining key themes—including retraction reasons, publisher involvement, disciplinary patterns, authorship characteristics, and country-level distributions—it presents original insights that contribute meaningfully to the global discourse on research integrity and retraction trends.