Mali ranks poorly in 2024 corruption perception index

Mali struggles in 2024 corruption perception index with low score

The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International ranks Mali at 136th position out of 180 countries, with a score of 28 out of 100. This result highlights the persistent challenge the country faces in combating corruption, a scourge that undermines governance and hinders progress.

The report points to a weakening of oversight institutions in the country. It also notes a lack of transparency in public procurement processes and opaque public finance management, fueling widespread perceptions of corruption.

Public administration remains particularly affected. Access to essential services such as justice, healthcare, and education is often contingent on favoritism or bribery. This situation fosters growing distrust in the state among citizens, reinforcing a climate of impunity for elites. Reports from the Office central de lutte contre l’enrichissement illicite (OCLEI) and the Bureau du Vérificateur Général further illustrate these concerns.

Regional context: Africa’s struggle with corruption

The 2024 CPI reveals that Mali is not alone in its struggles. Several West African countries also received poor scores, reflecting weak governance exacerbated by corruption and opaque public finances.

Nigeria, the region’s largest economy, scored just 25 out of 100, underscoring the scale of public fund embezzlement, particularly in the oil sector. Burkina Faso, another country in transition, scored 30 out of 100, remaining below the critical threshold of 50, which separates corrupt governance from relatively clean administration.

In contrast, Ghana stands out with a score of 43 out of 100, despite a slight decline, confirming its position as one of the region’s most transparent countries.

Africa’s ongoing battle against corruption

With an average score of 32 out of 100, Sub-Saharan Africa remains one of the regions most affected by corruption. More than two-thirds of African countries scored below 50, indicating weak state capacity to effectively combat this phenomenon.

Transparency International warns of the risk of embezzlement of climate funds, as many African countries are set to receive international aid to address climate change impacts. The lack of rigorous oversight over these funds risks depriving vulnerable populations of resources essential for their adaptation.

The most corrupt countries in the region include Somalia (11 out of 100), South Sudan (13 out of 100), and the Central African Republic (19 out of 100), where prolonged conflicts have exacerbated institutional collapse.

Global leaders in transparency

At the global level, Nordic countries continue to lead in transparency and good governance. Denmark remains the least corrupt country in the world with a score of 90 out of 100, followed by Finland (88 out of 100) and Norway (87 out of 100).

Other countries like Canada (75 out of 100) and Germany (79 out of 100) also maintain high levels of public integrity despite some recent controversies.

The five most corrupt countries in the ranking

At the bottom of the rankings are countries plagued by deep crises, where the absence of stable governance fosters large-scale corruption. These include Somalia (11 out of 100), South Sudan (13 out of 100), Syria (14 out of 100), Venezuela (14 out of 100), and Yemen (16 out of 100).

These nations suffer from civil wars, institutional collapse, and total impunity for corrupt actors.

Path forward for Mali and beyond

The 2024 CPI report underscores the urgent need to strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms. For Mali, this involves reinforcing the legal framework, increasing judicial independence, and better protecting whistleblowers.

Without concrete reforms, corruption will continue to weaken institutions, hinder development, and deepen citizens’ distrust in the state. Transparency International calls for both national and international mobilization to effectively combat this scourge, which threatens the country’s economic growth and political stability.