Introduction

Corruption is the perversion or misuse of a process or an interaction with one or

more people with the aim, for the corruptor, of obtaining particular advantages
or prerogatives or, for the corrupted, of obtaining retribution. in exchange for his
compliance. It generally leads to the personal enrichment of the corrupt person
or to the enrichment of the corrupting organization (mafia group, company, club,
etc.). This is a practice which can be considered illicit depending on the field
considered (commerce, business, politics, etc.) but whose specificity is precisely
to act in such a way as to make it impossible to detect or denounce. It can
concern any person with decision-making power, whether a political figure, a
civil servant, an executive of a private company, a doctor, a referee or an athlete,
a trade unionist or the organization to which they belong. . Influence peddling is
a form of corruption. What is the impact of corruption in Africa? This is the
perspective that we will present on corruption in Africa.

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I- Origin of the bribe
Originally, the “pot” was the terracotta or tin container in which wine or beer
was served. In Western culture, we offer a person a “pot to drink” out of
sympathy or in exchange for a small service rendered:
The expression “to give a bribe” appeared at the beginning of the 16th century
with a very innocent connotation which simply meant “to give a tip”. This pot
could be either the liquid itself (wine or beer), or a few coins representing only a
symbolic value;
Over the centuries, this custom took on a more pejorative connotation and
became synonymous with illegality and corruption. The value of this “pot” has
taken on a much greater value, whether monetary or material, designated by the
term “corruption”.

II- Definitions
1- Definition problems
It is difficult to propose a definition of corruption that suits all countries and all
times; the definitions put forward often serve to establish relationships of
domination between northern countries and “underdeveloped” countries
(considered to be more corrupt); they could have been judged paternalistic and
Eurocentric. Thus the anthropologist Olivier de Sardan points out that African
practices such as donations or acts of solidarity are seen elsewhere as forms of
corruption. For his part, Bo Rothstein (en) adopts a more universalist position;
he considers that all societies agree to value impartiality in the political sphere,
he admits that all societies do not interpret the distinction between the political
sphere and the private sphere in the same way, but thinks that they aspire
generally to separate them to avoid unfair preferences and nepotism.
2- Transparency International
According to Transparency International, “corruption consists of the abuse of
delegated power for private ends.”
This definition makes it possible to isolate three constituent elements of
corruption:
power abuse ;
for private purposes (therefore not necessarily benefiting the person abusing
power, but also including members of their close family or friends);

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a power that we have received by delegation (which can therefore emanate from
the private sector as well as the public sector).
Transparency also sometimes uses this definition: “abuse of power for the
purpose of personal enrichment”.
3- World Bank
The World Bank uses the following definition for corruption: “Using one's
position as head of a public service for personal benefit. »
4- United Nations
UNESCO's International Institute for Educational Planning has studied
corruption in education in particular. As such, it gives the following definition:
“a systematic use of a public office for private advantage, which has a
significant impact on the availability and quality of educational goods and
services and, consequently, on access, the quality or equity of education »

III- Causes of corruption in Africa

1- General causes
• Bad governance: unclear legislative framework, inadequate judicial system,
lack of transparency and accountability, lack of press freedom.
Absence of any preventive anti-corruption policy and awareness of the
importance of issues such as professional ethics, conflicts of interest (to prevent,
for example, people entering municipal councils to defend their own property
interests , entrepreneurial or other; lack of reflex to "disengage" from certain
decisions), refusal of gifts and other advantages which end up creating troubled
relationships or poorly perceived by third parties (including end-of-year gifts).
• Weak institutions: civil servants with strong authority with little accountability,
official officials attracted by sinful remuneration and having low salaries,
cultural factors relating to the mode of control in the administration or the belief
in the “right to benefits” administrative officials.
• Low salaries: public administration in many states provides relatively low
salaries for some of their agents; typically doctors, police officers (police
corruption), for example customs officers are easy victims of the system where
the culture admits that there is no need to pay them [decently] given that they
can take a hidden advantage of their functions.
Unfavorable administrative and corporatist culture generating fears and
dissuading any denunciation (or simple questioning of an affected system) by
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honest elements or those simply wishing to apply the rules existing; spirit of
revenge from the group and superiors imposing disguised sanctions instead of
promoting integrity (hence the need for real measures and policies to protect the
professional life of “whistleblowers” and possibly their loved ones). The
absence of code of ethics and conflict of interest prevention systems also
weakens professional integrity.
• Cultural aspects: the development of corruption is sometimes partially
attributed to perversions of cultural values, when for example the notion of
respect or submission to authority is diverted from its objectives. A study carried
out in 2006 (on a limited sample of 193 students from 43 countries) seems to
show a correlation between the propensity to offer bribes and the degree of
corruption existing in the country of origin.

IV- Characteristics
1- Forms of corruption in Africa
The World Bank identifies the following forms of corruption:
“kickbacks”: these are payments to official officials so that they act more
quickly, more flexibly and more favorably;
“fraud”: this is the falsification of data, invoices, collusion, etc. ;
“extortion”: this is money obtained by coercion or force;
“favoritism” (“nepotism”, “collusion”): this is the act of favoring those close to
you;
“embezzlement”: this is the theft of public resources by civil servants.
2- The 4 types of corruption in Africa
Corruption can be defined and categorized in different ways. The most common
types or categories of corruption are supply versus demand corruption, grand
corruption versus petty corruption, conventional corruption versus
unconventional corruption, and public corruption versus private corruption.

3- The impact of corruption on African society

It harms the poor and vulnerable the most, increasing costs and reducing access
to basic services, and even justice. It exacerbates inequality and reduces private
investment at the expense of markets, job opportunities and economies.

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4- Who are the victims of corruption in Africa?
Men, and people aged 30 to 39, are mainly represented among the victims of
corruption, whether requests or proposals. Among all victims, 62% were
employees of a company, a craftsman or an association, i.e. 488,000 people.
5- The most corrupt African countries
We have Somalia, South Sudan, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Burundi, Algeria,
Cameroon, etc…
V- Fight against corruption in Africa
1- Main article: Fight against corruption.
Campaign against corruption in Nouakchott (Mauritania).
“The future remedy for electoral corruption” (1875) engraving by Henri Julien,
published in L'opinion publique, a French-Canadian periodical.
High school student campaigning against corruption in the DRC.
Transparency International proposes as “a solution among others” to “place
these institutions” (Clearstream, Euroclear and other clearing and routing
houses) “under the control of an international organization which could play the
role of trusted third party”.
The OECD makes the fight against corruption one of its main objectives.
2- Other international organizations
At other levels, a report on the fight against corruption in developing countries
was approved by the European Parliament in April 2006. It states in particular
that corruption represents an obstacle to development in these countries and that
as a result fact the European Union must make the fight against corruption a
priority axis of its development policy. The authors recommend the creation of a
blacklist of corrupt states and government officials, the suspension of loans to
prevent misappropriation of public funds, the allocation of part of development
aid to monitoring agencies, a greater transparency of European Union aid
programs (which represent nearly 55% of international public aid).
In the business world, the NGO Transparency International proposed in 2001 a
code of conduct consisting of the “principles for action against corruption”
(Business Principles for Countering Bribery).

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 Conclusion
At the end of our analysis, we can say corruption is a practice which is very
frequent in Africa and which is gaining importance in all areas, however these
causes are numerous and have consequences on the life of African nations. It
slows down the development of African countries and is heading towards its
doom.

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 summary
Introduction
VI- Origin of the bribe
VII- Definitions

5- Definition problems
6- Transparency International
7- World Bank

8- United Nations
VIII- Causes of corruption in Africa
2- General causes

IX- Characteristics
6- Forms of corruption in Africa

7- The 4 types of corruption in Africa

8- The impact of corruption on African society

9- Who are the victims of corruption in Africa?
10- The most corrupt African countries
X- Fight against corruption in Africa
3- Main article: Fight against corruption.

4- Other international organizations

Conclusion