Corruption in Africa has been a significant problem for the continent. Corruption in Africa has dire effects on the economy and livelihood of people. It is more severe because of limited resources and poverty rampant in the continent.
In countries such as Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria, people have lost their lives because of this corrupt system. Corruption is considered one of the biggest threats to African political systems, especially those going through a post-conflict situation. Corruption in Africa is mainly caused by greed and poverty.
African leaders are unwilling to change the system because they benefit from it. Most countries in Africa are dominated by poverty, which is one of the significant reasons corruption is highly known in Africa. According to Transparency International, 70% of Africa’s population live below the poverty line, which leaves them without basic needs such as clean water and sanitation services.
Is Africa more corrupt than other continents?
Corruption is a common feature globally, and no country can claim to have a corruption-free system. African countries are, at most, the recipients of bribes. In responding to whether Africa is more corrupt than other continents, Goolam Dawood said, “Africa is the least corrupt continent after North America and the Eurozone. Both regions are involved in massive tax fraud schemes and illegal control of the Global economy. These two regions are committing the major frauds in Africa.” [Source].
This might be true as North America and Eurozone often report on frauds and mismanagement of public funds.
According to Ke’Aun, “Corruption in Africa might look more jarring, but it’s not necessarily worse. An Angolan oligarch who steals a billion dollars is not much different than a Russian/American/Chinese oligarch who steals a billion dollars, you get me? It just looks worse in Angola because the country is poorer, so billion dollars is a larger slice of the pie”.
Such a perspective is also true. Because of limited resources and poor facilities in developing nations, acts of corruption can cripple a whole system. That is why Africa seems like it is more corrupt.
European fraud scandals usually involve millions of dollars, while it is primarily a sensible amount of money in Africa. Also, Africa houses a significant number of poor people, so they will not back down when they get a chance to fill their pockets through corruption. But this does not mean they steal millions because it is hard to carry out such a vast corrupt act given the limited finances in many African countries.
Since corruption has devastating effects on the African continent, it looks like it is the most corrupt.
Differences between African and European political corruption
The intensity of corruption depends on the context it is being carried out. Political corruption involves the “use of powers by government officials or their network contacts for illegitimate private gain.” [Source].
African corruption happens on all levels, from the poor to the rich people. Many people are suffering, but in Europe, the public tends to have a higher standard of living. Due to poverty, African corruption is more inclined to loot funds and European corruption is not centred on looting.
European political corruption seems to be distanced from the economy. In Africa, political corruption is directly attached to the economy. Despite a corrupt political system in Europe, people continue to get their essential services. In Africa, all services are often affected.
European countries have many political parties that control the economy and other parts of the government. So, if one party is corrupt, then the other parties will keep on delivering. In Africa, ruling parties take control of almost the entire system, and when they become corrupt, the whole country suffers. There are reports of corrupt national leaders being removed in Europe. This happens through a parliamentary process or vote of no confidence. Corrupt African leaders are usually difficult to remove through voting. They influence the voting process, and parliament is full of their members.
It is hard to unseat a corrupt African political leader compared to removing a European one. European states enjoy high living standards. It takes a trained eye to pick out corruption. In an African setting, corruption shows through low living standards and flawed governance systems.
The military often backed up political corruption in Africa, especially by the top hierarchy. This makes it almost impossible to remove it because of intimidation. European political corruption can land one in jail.
Differences between African and American political corruption
America and Africa have a completely different political landscape. This influences how corruption affects the system.
American political corruption is not always easily linked to the flow of the economy. Africa’s political corruption influences the economy.
America has one of the best economies in this world, which shows that political corruption in this setting has a lesser effect. Africa is suffering economically, showing the impact of political corruption.
Americans prioritize making money so even a corrupt system can make huge financial returns. Africans enjoy looting due to poverty, so they leave a void and do not think twice about financially crippling the system.
America benefits from African political corruption by getting resources. Africa never benefits from Americans’ corruption. The American parliament may remove corrupt leaders. African leaders find it hard to do so because a corrupt leader rules every sector in government.
A corrupt American leader can lose elections, and a corrupt African leader can manipulate the electoral system. Corruption in Africa works with the military, but the military is a standalone entity in America.
How America profits from corruption in African politics
America benefits from corruption in African politics in various ways. “Africa is an important investment destination for many leading U.S. industries and Fortune 500 companies, contributing to U.S. jobs and increasing the revenue base for several cities” [Source], which shows an economic benefit.
Africa has hoards of minerals and raw materials used to industrialize developed countries. The Americans take advantage of that to manipulate any corrupt leader. This started during the colonial periods. European colonizers would install a puppet leader who would allow them to loot a state’s resources.
More so, Africa is a viable market full of people aspiring to copy the American or European style of living. Americans sell their products to African countries because Africans do not have industries. Corruption in Africa causes stunted growth in the economy. Americans enjoy bringing their products to Africa and taking money.
Mismanagement of funds by corrupt African governments leads to a brain drain. Students seek better education and opportunity in the West. Western countries have diverse academic research institutions.
Africa has lost doctors, engineers, scientists, musicians, media personalities and actors to Europe as these people move to greener pastures. Some of the brightest African students run off to European universities and colleges. The ones at home lack equipment, especially in science and technology studies.
A lot of talent is exported to Europe while Africa starves, which can be seen in sports such as soccer. This happens because African politics affect people’s livelihood and harms the economy.
People who have graduated from school or learned a lot also often leave Africa because of the corruption there. But when they go to European countries, they can use their skills and knowledge to benefit those societies.
Most Africans, especially the rich ones, move or travel to America and spend their fortunes there. Africa loses a lot of opportunities to host events such as sports music concerts or to be used as territories in movies. America and other European countries become the chosen ones.
How Europe profits from corruption in African politics
Europe provides a haven for corrupt leaders to store their ill-gotten wealth. Many national leaders in Africa buy property in Europe. They go there for annual vacations, leaving their countries badly.
Also, African students run off to European varsities and colleges because the ones at home lack educational equipment, especially in science and technology studies. Africa has lost doctors, engineers, scientists, musicians, media personalities and actors to Europe as these people move to greener pastures.
A lot of talent is exported to Europe while Africa starves, which can be seen in sports such as soccer. This happens because African politics affect people’s livelihood and harms the economy.
Graduates and learned people also run away from African corruption and join the Europeans, benefiting from their abilities.
How the West Enables corrupt African politician
An article titled ‘How the United States Makes Corruption in Africa Worse’ [Source], quoted Obama who said that corruption “is not just a problem of Africa, it is a problem of those who do business with Africa”, and explained that “Indeed, many of the funds illicitly and illegally earned in Africa end up in the United States, where criminals create anonymous shell companies to hide their money and avoid prosecution.”
The West makes it easy to create anonymous shell companies for political leaders to hide their ill-gotten gains. The West comes with dodgy economic partnerships in Africa [Source].
Western owned or backed companies also contribute by getting illegal tenders in Africa. They looted minerals, ivory and other resources. These companies exploit the corrupt political system to access these resources. They have money to pay those hungry leaders who will be looking for a huge pay-out. It is easy for a European to bribe a poor African.
The West has been known to support corrupt leaders who give them leeway to get resources from Africa, and they are also quick to condemn African leaders who try to stop such corrupt activities. The West ignores corruption in Africa and does not help unless it is beneficial to them. They say that they are followers of human rights, but their actions show that this is not true.
The role of international Banking Systems
International Banking systems fuel the effects of corruption in Africa. Not only do they keep illegal funds, but they do not release these funds to help the masses. Reports also show debts of African countries that they cannot pay and end up losing rights to borrow any more money.
One can argue that this is one of the most effective ways to keep Africa at its mercy. Leaders who move away from this borrowing model to an autonomous one do so at their peril. Thomas Sankara was a great example of this. He led Burkina Faso to self-sustainability, and the West did not kindly take this.
He was killed in a coup facilitated by France.
Africa has lost what it could have had if its leaders did not bend under pressure or pay-outs from the West. Many African countries are still run like personal properties.
Corruption in South African politics
“Corruption in South Africa includes improper public resources for private ends, including bribery and improper favouritism. The 2017 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index assigned South Africa a score of 43 out of 100, ranking South Africa 71 out of 180 countries” [Source].
The Gupta family scandal seems to be linked with the national leadership, which explains why no arrests have been made. Also, the masses are suffering and indulging in illegal activities, but the country is one of the richest in Africa. It was able to host a World Cup but have ghetto areas like Soweto where people are starving and women falling into prostitution as a source of income.
Political corruption in South Africa led the Times to conclude that South Africa inherited an apartheid system. One that does not look after the masses and protect the rights of a few individuals [Source]. Xenophobia and riots show how the ANC is failing to manage the country. Yet they boast of having a viable economy, which suggests political corruption.
Other examples
Corrupt political systems are seen in various countries, including Zimbabwe. This country suffered immensely under Mugabe’s rule. It did not make any improvements after independence. It had the highest inflation in Africa and reached a quad-trillion figure with its currency.
There is also Uganda under Museveni, who has succeeded in rendering the electoral process fruitless. In the last election, he switched off internet services. He denied people access to the internet until the election results were announced. He also tormented Bob Wine, a major competitor [Source].
Nigeria is facing the same problems. Akpata stated that “the results of the study show that corruption in Nigeria could cost up to 37% of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) by 2030 if it’s not dealt with immediately. This cost is equated to around $1,000 per person in 2014 and nearly $2,000 per person by 2030. The boost in average income that we estimate, given the current per capita income, can significantly improve the lives of many in Nigeria” [Source].
Chad, Eritrea, Burundi, Congo, Guinea Bissau, Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, Somalia and South Sudan were listed as corrupt nations. The situation worsened because of Covid-19 [Source].
