On Tuesday, Transparency International released its annual report on how corrupt countries are. Unsurprisingly, African countries make up most of those that are most corrupt.
Here is a partial list of the most corrupt to least corrupt countries in Africa on the Corruption Perception Index, or CPI (0-100, 0 being “highly corrupt” and 100 being “very clean”):
Somalia: In a country full of famine and war, Somalia is at the bottom of the list with a 12 rating.
As TI stated: The country has been mired in a circle of violence and instability for over three decades, with practically no means available to curb rampant corruption. In October 2022, the recently elected president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud dissolved two key anti-corruption bodies – the Judicial Service Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission – via decree. Mohamud has been accused of corruption and abuse of power in the past. Meanwhile, economic and humanitarian conditions for Somalians are steadily deteriorating.
South Sudan: With a 13 rating, this country’s humanitarian and economic issues were worsened due to the Covid-19 pandemic as, according to the United Nations, more than half of South Sudan’s population of 10.75 million is dealing with food insecurity. This is partially due to corruption as funds “meant to deliver fuel, food, and medicine across South Sudan, disappeared into a maze of international shell companies that never provided any goods or services, leaving people to die as hospitals were gutted of medicine and neonatal ward generators went cold,” according to investigative and policy organization The Sentry.
Libya: Post-Gadhafi, this North African country has a 17 rating as it had been plagued with civil war. According to TI:
As the state is incapacitated, elites battle with each other over the country’s rich oil resources, and corrupt public officials serve themselves instead of the Libyan population – even while many lack access to basic services. Especially in the western region and along the southern border, armed groups flame tensions as the public lead demonstrations calling for better access to fundamental services.
This all fuels further factional strife and ongoing instability. The country has thus been unable to hold elections, and the UN has claimed key institutional players continue to hinder progress. Until leaders stop this corrupt cycle, the country will be unable to move forward.
Equatorial Guinea: With a 17 rating, according to TI, this country “continues to suffer from relentless exploitation at the hands of its ruling family. The country’s political, economic and legal systems have all been controlled by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, his relatives and cronies for close to four decades.” Obiang is the world’s longest-serving leader and won 95 percent of the vote in November in an allegedly unfair and unfree re-election. This month, his son, Ruslan Obiang Nsue, was apprehended for allegedly selling a plane tied to Ceiba Intercontinental, which is Equatorial Guinea’s national airline.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Having a 20 rating, this country’s “deeply embedded corruption facilitates the activities of illegal armed groups, including through mineral and wildlife trafficking posing a risk to human security and facilitating the plundering of resources,” according to TI.
Sudan: With a 22 rating, it is one of the ten least peaceful countries in the world.
Nigeria: With a 24 rating, it was poor protection for whistleblowers against government corruption. Additionally, its elections are anything but free and fair as is likely to be the case in February.
Central African Republic: Like Nigeria, this country has a 24 rating and, like Sudan, is one of the ten least peaceful countries in the world.
Angola: While the country “has shown significant improvement over the past years, gaining 14 points on the CPI since 2018,” according to TI, its score is still low with a 33 rating. Per TI: President João Lourenço’s ongoing commitment to root out systemic corruption in the country is showing effects, including through stronger laws. The public prosecutor recently requested the Interpol to issue an arrest warrant against Isabel dos Santos, daughter of the former president, and the Supreme Court ordered her assets to be seized. However, there continues to be a concern that corruption investigations are politically motivated and that the governing party might be targeting the opposition
