- Somalia, South Sudan, and Equatorial Guinea are the top three most corrupt countries in Africa.
- The information presented in this article is courtesy of Transparency International.
Corruption is one of the most hostile atrocities meted out on societies—reeping the vulnerables off their rights to own and create wealth. For decades, African leadership has been a benchmark for bad leadership—engulfed in dictatorship, autocracy, and totalitarianism—leaving the concept of egalitarianism defunct.
Ending corruption is a collective responsibility that requires a synergistic approach through a strong and independent judicial system and unwavering efforts by civil society. Those stealing today were once ordinary citizens, a clear indication that human beings are interest-driven devoid of societal caste. It’s the role of every citizen to foster morality, even at independent levels.
Most African countries have for long experienced a tandem of internal wars, occasoned by leadership egocentrism, displacing the innocent, thus creating a vacuum for pillage and looting for lack of an independent law enforcement body.
It’s not even a surprise that institutions charged with the responsibility of enforcing utilitarianism in modern societies remain morally bankrupt at the expense of exploited and manipulated citizens. It’s high time for African countries to treat corruption as a felony. Lack of strong government structures means that public officials operate with impunity, as in the case of Somalia.
Somalia has experienced decades of prolonged conflicts and instability, which has led to a breakdown of state institutions, therefore creating a favorable environment for corruption to flourish. Weak government structures, lack of independent judicial systems, peddle impunity among the political class without fear of facing any consequences.
According to the Corruption Percep Index (CPI) by Transparency International, Somalia is the most corrupt country, not only in Africa but also globally. CPI ranks Somalia 180th against 180 nations, with a score of 11. South Sudan follows closely, with a CPI score of 13, and 177th globally.
