Somalia ranked the world's most corrupt nation

Somalia is still ranked the world's most corrupt country, according to the just released 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). The index is published annually by Transparency International (TI) and assesses the perceived levels of public sector corruption in 180 countries. BBC News reports that the TI noted that the country's poor rule of law has created room for everything from ‘petty bribery to high-level political corruption’. TI has called for the establishment of structures for ‘political accountability to facilitate anti-corruption mechanisms’. Finance Minister Abdirahman Duale Beyle has previously threatened to sue the organisation.

While SA saw a marginal improvement in its score on the index, it needs to do much more to address the scourge of corruption. That’s the word from Corruption Watch, following the release of the latest index, says a Moneyweb report. SA secured a score of 44 in 2019 compared to 43 the year before, which ranks the country 70th in the world out of 180 nations that are part of the index. Corruption Watch said SA’s score still ‘places it squarely amongst countries deemed to have a serious corruption problem, and to not be doing enough in their anti-corruption efforts’. ‘The South African public has made it clear that until there is visible progress in prosecuting those responsible for corruption and until there is visible improvement in the ability of state-owned enterprises to deliver their vital services, government’s promises to combat corruption will not be trusted,’ Corruption Watch executive director David Lewis is quoted as saying. He also raised concerns about the lack of action around the Political Party Funding Act. ‘The failure, after a year, to bring the Act into operation does little to inspire confidence in the strength of government’s will to tackle corruption.’

Malawi has once again scored poorly on the fight against corruption and bribery with latest studies showing the country has slipped from 120 to 123 on the CPI. The Nyasa Times reports that Integrity Platform official Jeff Kabondo said the Malawian authorities ‘need to rise above petty political rhetoric on corruption fight’.