Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia top 2013 most corrupt nations' list

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

December 12, 2013 (ADDIS ABABA) – Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia have been listed among the five most corrupt countries in the world in the 2013 ranking by the global corruption watchdog^[1], Transparency International.

The index which measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption was conducted in 177 countries giving scores ranging from 0 which represents highly corrupt to 100, very clean.

Somalia was ranked 177, Sudan 174 and South Sudan was placed 173. The three East African nations scored below 15. Somalia (8) Sudan (11) and South Sudan (14).

Although South Sudan is ranked along the bottom five nations, the world’s newest nation improved five places up compared to last year when it was labelled the world’s most corrupt nation.

The two other countries placed at the bottom five are North Korea at position 176 and Afghanistan at 175. Both scored 8.

The report indicated that more than two-thirds of the 177 countries in the 2013 index score below 50 indicating how much corruption is a global threat to development.

Top 10 ranked nations are Denmark (Score: 91), New Zealand (Score: 91), Finland (Score: 89), Sweden (Score: 89), Norway (Score: 86), Singapore (Score: 86), Switzerland (Score: 85), Netherlands (Score: 83), Australia (Score: 81), Canada (Score: 81)

AfDB: $ 2.6 TRILLION STOLEN ANNUALLY

Meanwhile, the African Development Bank (AfDB) said that $2.6 trillion is lost worldwide each year due corruption.

In a statement to commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day, AfDB’s President, Dr Donald Kaberuka said on Monday that the $2.6 trillion accounts for more than five percent equivalence of the global GDP.

"In our globalised and highly interconnected world, corruption represents one of our greatest challenges; every year $1 trillion are paid in bribes in the world, while an estimated 2.6 trillion dollars are stolen annually through corruption," Kaberuka said.

The President of the African Development Bank said corruption has become a serious setback to economic development and prosperity worldwide.

"Corruption erodes democratic institutions and undermines the rule of law and there is no country or territory untouched by this threat."

The bank said it views good governance and the fight against corruption as key elements to alleviate poverty.

(ST)

References

1. ^{^} 2013 ranking by the global corruption watchdog (www.transparency.org.uk)