Corruption worsens globally, with many African nations at bottom of Transparency’s 2024 Index

Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) paints a bleak picture of corruption worldwide, with many African countries showing their worst results in over a decade.
The report, released on Tuesday (11 February), reveals that 47 countries out of 180 surveyed scored their lowest marks since 2012, signaling an alarming global rise in corruption. On a global scale, the report underscores that corruption remains widespread, with over two-thirds of the 180 countries surveyed scoring below 50. A score of zero is considered “highly corrupt”; a score of 100 “very clean”. Transparency International’s 2024 CPI also shows that corruption continues to severely impact particularly the Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa regions.
In the Middle East and North Africa, efforts to combat corruption are struggling due to political leaders’ near-total control over resources and suppression of dissent. However, the report notes some “unforeseen opportunities” in regions like Syria, where the fall of President Bashar Assad’s government has created potential for change. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region with the lowest average score, at just 33 out of 100. Many African nations grapple with political instability, weak governance, and resource mismanagement, making it difficult to curb corruption. The report highlights the particularly low scores of countries like South Sudan (8), Somalia (9), and Equatorial Guinea (13), which are plagued by ongoing conflicts and poor accountability.
The Transparency’s report also suggests that corruption is obstructing the efficient use of climate finance, with funds at risk of being embezzled or misused. The watchdog called for stronger accountability frameworks and improved anti-corruption measures to ensure that resources are used effectively in the fight against global warming.