Afrobarometer’s latest report reveals that a staggering 67% of Africans believe their governments are failing in the fight against corruption.
Furthermore, 71% of Africans who report corruption to authorities risk facing retaliation.
The report also highlights that nearly six out of ten African citizens believe corruption levels in their countries have increased over the past year, including in South Africa.
According to the report, 82% of South Africans and 87% of citizens in Eswatini perceive a rise in corruption.
Only three countries, Benin (70%), Mali (64%), and Zambia (53%), recorded majorities who believe corruption has decreased.
Afrobarometer emphasizes the negative impact of official corruption on public support for democracy. The findings indicate that the problem of corruption is perceived to be worsening by ordinary Africans.
The report also sheds light on the widespread perception of corruption among government appointees, MPs, the judiciary, and civil servants.
In up to 30 countries, 38% of respondents believe “most” or “all” officials in their president’s office are corrupt, an increase of 13 percentage points since 2011/2013.
Perceptions of corruption have also increased for members of Parliament (+11 points) and the judiciary (+8 points), with marginal increases for local government councillors and civil servants.
The report surveyed 39 countries across Africa, providing a comprehensive overview of the continent’s corruption trends and perceptions.