Seychelles has become Africa’s top performer in the fight against corruption, according to the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) by Transparency International. Scoring 72 out of 100, the island nation ranks 18th globally out of 180 countries. Since 2012, Seychelles has improved its score by 20 points, marking the largest improvement worldwide.
The report highlights Seychelles’ success in prosecuting high-profile corruption cases and improving transparency in financial ownership. “The government has actively pursued corruption cases and strengthened information sharing among law enforcement agencies,” the report states.
Other African nations also performed well. Cape Verde scored 62, while Rwanda and Botswana tied with 57 points each.
However, the report reveals a troubling trend for Sub-Saharan Africa, which has the lowest average CPI score of 33 out of 100. A shocking 90% of countries in the region scored below 50, showing widespread corruption challenges.
In East Africa, Kenya scored 32, ranking 121st globally. Neighboring Uganda ranked 140th with 26 points, while Tanzania performed better, securing the 82nd position with a score of 41.
At the bottom of the global rankings were Equatorial Guinea and Eritrea, each with 13 points, Somalia with 9 points, and South Sudan with 8 points.
The CPI, a key global measure of public sector corruption, ranks countries on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The 2024 index uses data from 13 external sources and focuses on how corruption undermines global climate action.
While 32 countries have significantly reduced corruption since 2012, 148 countries have either stagnated or worsened. The global average score of 43 has remained unchanged for years, with over two-thirds of countries scoring below 50.
Transparency International’s report is both a celebration of progress and a call to action. Seychelles shows that strong political will and institutional reforms can make a difference. However, Sub-Saharan Africa’s struggles highlight the urgent need for greater transparency, accountability, and international cooperation.
As corruption continues to hinder global efforts like climate action, the report emphasizes the need for stronger anti-corruption measures worldwide. For Africa, the path forward lies in learning from success stories like Seychelles while addressing systemic weaknesses.