Fragile African democratic gains face erosion
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Africans believe that corruption is getting worse and government efforts are lacking
Impacts
- NGO calls for a regional anti-corruption court may gain traction.
- Growing political populism will damage faith in democratic institutions and orthodox economic policies.
- High-level anti-graft measures in South Africa face greatest ongoing resistance at subnational levels.
Conclusion
Despite a proliferation of election-related disputes, Afrobarometer data indicates that 63% of Africans view recent elections as generally free and fair; such faith is bolstered by alteration at the ballot box.
Yet while confidence in electoral processes is surprisingly strong, a new Afrobarometer/Transparency International survey indicates that most citizens do not believe their governments are doing enough to combat worsening corruption.
Some 39% believe that most or all government officials are corrupt, and 36% believe parliamentarians are similarly compromised. With one in four citizens paying a bribe to secure access to public services over the preceding year, faith in good governance and government efforts are being eroded.
References
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