Transparency International observed in its latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) little improvement in anti-corruption efforts across all African countries, although some stand out. The best performances were notably noted in countries like Seychelles, Angola, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Transparency International recently issued its Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2023. The organization revealed that only 23 out of the 54 African countries improved their scores. The CPI assesses 180 countries and territories worldwide based on the perceived level of corruption in the public sector, using a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
Sierra Leone made slight improvement from 110 in to 2022 to 108 in 2023 but fail to make it among the top performers in Africa.
Among the top performers in Africa, Seychelles, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Mauritius, and Côte d’Ivoire, which have consistently improved on the CPI over the past decade, emerged as the top five countries with the most significant progress. Seychelles led the African rankings, followed by Cape Verde and Botswana. Conversely, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, and Somalia recorded the lowest scores.
Most African countries showed stagnation, and the overall score for the region remains mediocre. The regional average has not changed; 90% of sub-Saharan African countries scored below 50. For the 23 “good performers”, Transparency international revealed that the main key behind their improvement is the recent reforms they have implemented. For instance, Côte d’Ivoire revamped its legislation, mandating high-ranking officials to declare their assets. In 2023, the country introduced a dedicated digital platform for whistleblowers, encouraging citizens to report corruption with significant economic implications.
According to the OECD and the African Development Bank, corruption hampers efforts to achieve higher investment rates. In 2015, the African Development Bank estimated annual losses due to corruption in Africa at $148 billion. The report underscores the ongoing battle against corruption and the positive impact of proactive measures on transparency and accountability across the continent.
