The 2023 reports from Transparency International on Africa’s corruption index are quite detailed and the opposite of encouraging, especially that of Sub-Saharan Africa. The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of many countries rises and falls in the face of various factors including the coronavirus pandemic and economic decline.

Sub-Saharan Africa comprises countries such as Burundi, Seychelles, Nigeria, Cameroun, Kenya, Cape Verde, Lesotho, the Gambia, Djibouti, Ghana, Angola, Ethiopia, Liberia, etc. which lie to the South of the Sahara desert. They have been recorded to have the lowest Corruption Perception Index in the whole of CA, show little or no signs of improvement and speedy intervention.

It is no use that a place high up on the corruption radar has only dealt serious harm to the continent of Africa. It is also a huge barrier to the achievement of all their development goals and targets, as well as economic improvement. Only a united and decisive action against the further decay of the system can save the continent from further plunging into the depths of its current state.

Still on the Transparency International reports, the countries with the lowest Corruption Perception Index include Mauritius, Rwanda, Cape Verde, Namibia, Botswana, Seychelles, etc. They are some of the countries with the least propensity to corruption in the continent of Africa. The most corrupt countries in Africa are listed below.

Somalia: Somalia tops the list of most corrupt countries in Africa. The high corruption rate in the country is further facilitated by the unrest, state of anarchy, and insecurity in the country. Bribery is also the order of the day, as some government officials allow themselves to be bribed, and therefore, look the other way when illegal and unlawful acts are carried out.

Even though Somalia’s constitution prohibits many forms of corruption, the process of implementing said laws is not being carried out.

Institutions and parastatals are in a disorganized state, and unable to support resistance against the cloud of corruption in the country. There is no framework or set rules for the regulation of state activities, and the economy is bound and unable to grow in such a state.

South Sudan: South Sudan ranks high on the list because it is especially plagued by bribery. It seems like most things, including engaging in commercial activities will not be successful unless bribes are given. To run one’s business without qualms, one has to have some form of government affiliation, or rather ‘buy‘ it.

The judicial system in South Sudan is nothing to write home about either. It is crippled by corruption too and unable to help the issue in the country.

Equatorial Guinea: Reports have it that the corruption control in Equatorial Guinea is incredibly low. The citizens no longer have faith in the ability and performance of the public officials. This is because these authorities only work for their public benefit.

Sudan: Sudan is on the list of most corrupt African countries because of the profound permeation of corruption in nearly all sectors of the country, particularly the economic sector. The corruption in the country also reigns in the political realm where authorities abuse their powers and favoritism is the order of the day.

Libya: Ever since the collapse of Gaddafi’s rulership in 2010, Libya has been thrown into a state of absolute turmoil. The economy fell drastically and the public and industry sectors have taken a nosedive into a deep trench of corruption. The once-booming oil sector is now plagued by corruption and vandalism.

The commercial industry is in a constant tug-of-war with businesses run by the state, as the latter arbitrarily and unlawfully takes over the market and stifles any form of competition from private ventures.

Democratic Republic of Congo: DR Congo is a country that seems to thrive on oppression and suppression, especially of those who speak out against the corrupt system or take measures to curtail it. The democratic system in place is rather frail and doesn’t challenge the corrupt whims of politicians in the country.

The country’s internal security is also in jeopardy, as it is not in control of its armed forces. There’s a constant struggle for control and power tussle between the country’s already depleted forces and local militia both within and along its borders.

Guinea Bissau: Guinea Bissau was listed as 7th on the top ten most corrupt African nations. Corruption has invaded the system and caused a malfunction of the otherwise organized government departments.

Congo: Congo is the 165 least corrupt nation out of 180 countries, and the eighth most corrupt country in Africa according to the 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International.

Burundi: It seems to be that only a societal analysis and a review of policies will salvage the state of Burundi. This is because the current policies and agencies put in place to combat corruption in the country have failed to dent the burden of corruption upon the country. The corruption rate is steadily on the increase and is a deep cause of alarm, so much so that it has caused a state of unrest and instability in the country.

Chad: In addition to security issues made worse by insurgency, Chad is also pervaded by corruption. Its economy suffers a huge blow as a result, and the rule of law is barely enforceable. Many people act in a corrupt light, in a way that suggests that they are above the way.

There is, however, an existence of legislation against corruption with sanctions harsh enough to deter any person. But this doesn’t deter the perpetrators of corrupt acts in Chad; they instead target, enter,p and impose these sanctions to punish the perceived membership.

Zimbabwe: On the 11th place, we have the Republic of Zimbabwe. Research has shown that Zimbabwe is one of the countries that has the highest rate of corruption in Africa since she gained her independence till today. According to Transparency International, Zimbabwe loses over $5,000,000 every day because of the high rate of corruption in the public sector.

There have also been reports of the unaccountability of many public heads for money that was supposed to be for public use. The government of the country has also passed many laws in other to benefit themselves rather than the country at large. For example, the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Bill.

Several governments are aware of the laces to stop corruption but they all seem not to be working. For example, the Zimbabwean Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has little or no power to stop corruption in the country.

Nigeria: In Nigeria, corruption is a persistent problem. According to estimates from 2012, Nigeria has lost more than $400 billion to corruption since becoming independent. South Sudan, which was listed at 180th on the Corruption Index for 2021, was the most corrupt nation, while Denmark had the lowest level of corruption. Due to their ties to Nigeria’s oil and gas sectors, politicians in that country enjoy positions of authority and money.

In Nigeria, corruption is a persistent problem. According to estimates from 2012, Nigeria has lost more than $400 billion to corruption since becoming independent. South Sudan, which was listed at 180th on the Corruption Index for 2021, was the most corrupt nation, while Denmark had the lowest level of corruption. Due to their ties to Nigeria’s oil and gas sectors, politicians in that country enjoy positions of authority and money. About 90% of all export earnings from Nigeria come from the sale of oil and gas. These industries, which receive tax dollars from the energy sector, are under the ownership of many politicians. Every aspect of the Nigerian administration is corrupt. It is claimed that corruption within the state machinery costs the nation billions of dollars annually. This corruption ranges from significant contract fraud at the top to small-scale bribery, criminal enterprises, embezzlement, and snatching salaries from employees.

South Africa: In South Africa, corruption is defined as the illicit exploitation of public resources for private advantages, such as bribery as well as unlawful favoritism. In 2017 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index gave South Africa a rating of 43 out of 100, ranking the country 71st out of 180 countries. Both a high score as well as a low ranking show that people trust the public sector of the country. With a score of 44 in 2021, South Africa had made a small improvement and was ranked 70th out of 180 countries.

Although South Africa has a strong anti-corruption framework, laws are not consistently upheld, and accountability in public sectors like healthcare is still subpar. To deter whistleblowers from disclosing corrupt practices in both the public and private sectors, internal punishments have also been used.

Mozambique: Mozambique’s republic has deteriorated as the nation deals with deteriorating economic circumstances and rising armed conflict. Corrupt officials are mostly to blame for the rising instability in the economic, governance, environmental, as well as security sectors. As a result, the necessity to tackle the problem of corruption and strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms is urgent. In the interim, there was a huge discovery.

Meanwhile, the discovery of abundant natural resources has raised the stakes in the fight against corruption. Incomes from resources can either finance structural change, development, and the reduction of poverty, or they can be used as incentives for grand corruption to continue with disastrous results. The ongoing conflict in Mozambique’s north, which is fueled by a complicated web of intertwined grievances, has increased the case for spending money on restoring faith in government institutions rather than on a unilaterally security-focused strategy.

Cameron: Since the country’s independence, corruption has been rife. Corruption has spread to every aspect of society and the government, affecting the executive, judicial system, police, and even the commercial sector. The insufficient political will to combat corruption and neopatrimonialism are the key contributing factors. Other factors include hidden agendas and a lack of moral obligation, a deficient judicial system and virtually no opposition in the legislative branch, favoritism and nepotism, a weak system of accountability, and some others.

The Cameroonian government has taken some actions to combat the issue of corruption in the nation. In late 2013, Cameroon entered the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative to improve transparency in the country’s oil sector. Doing business in Cameroon is difficult due to several high-corruption risk sectors, including customs and governmental procurement.

Uganda: Large-scale theft of public monies, small-scale corruption including public officials throughout all levels of society, and pervasive political patronage structures are all characteristics of corruption in Uganda. Foreign funding has made elite corruption in Uganda through a patronage system worse. Large sums of resources that the government has received through aid have contributed to the corruption that exists in the nation. Gaining allies and support through corruption is a tactic employed by officials to hold onto power. Due to the lack of openness in government transactions, one of the more recent types of corruption is through public procurement.

In Uganda, corruption is nothing new. Governments in Uganda have a lengthy history of corruption. The degree of corruption in some governments was higher than in others.

This deep plunge into the well of corruption is detrimental to the progress of the continent. Transparency International thinks that Africa can tackle corruption by taking certain immediate actions such as: regulating public services and funds injected into the sector for such purposes to curb embezzlement, reinstating the principle of checks and balances as well as the true spirit of democracy.