Global corruption watchdog Transparency International revealed that Somalia and South Sudan have been ranked among the world’s most corrupt nations. The report highlighted that weak justice systems in these countries undermine accountability for public officials.
The Corruption Perception Index 2023 assigned scores of 11 and 13, respectively, out of 100 to Somalia and South Sudan. The scores indicated no signs of improvement, and both nations continue to grapple with protracted crises, primarily armed conflicts.
Equatorial Guinea and Libya also featured in the index, scoring 17 and 18, respectively. Transparency International evaluates perceptions of public sector corruption in 180 countries, using a scale ranging from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
The report pointed out that most African countries demonstrated stagnation, reflecting the region’s consistent poor performance. The unchanged regional average score remained at 33, with approximately 90% of sub-Saharan African countries scoring below 50.
Transparency International called upon governments in sub-Saharan Africa to grant justice systems the independence, resources, and transparency necessary for effectively addressing corruption offenses.
Samuel Kaninda, Africa regional advisor of Transparency International, emphasized the urgency of addressing underlying governance deficits in the face of resurging coups and conflicts across the continent.
“Strengthening the judiciary and implementing functioning accountability mechanisms are key to ending the continued backsliding of the region in its fight against corruption,” he stated.
Seychelles Leads as Least Corrupt in Sub-Saharan Africa
The Corruption Perceptions Index 2023 identified Seychelles as the least corrupt country in the sub-Saharan Africa region, boasting a score of 71. Following closely were Cap Verde with a score of 64, Botswana with 59, and Rwanda with 53.
Transparency International acknowledged the Ivory Coast as one of the nations consistently improving on the index over the past decade. The report attributed this positive trend to the successful implementation of several reforms by President Alassane Ouattara’s administration, strengthening accountability mechanisms.
The global scenario painted by the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index indicates a prevalence of corruption across the world.
The global average remained stagnant at 43, with the vast majority of countries showing no progress or experiencing a decline over the last decade.
Transparency International’s CEO, Daniel Eriksson, stressed that corruption exacerbates social injustice, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.
He called for breaking barriers to ensure effective access to justice, emphasizing the importance of fair and inclusive legal systems where victims’ voices are heard at every stage. Anything less, he concluded, is an affront to justice.
