Corruption is a scourge that continues to plague Madagascar, despite the efforts made to combat this phenomenon. According to the NGO Transparency International, the country obtained a score of 25/100 in its corruption perception index in 2023, a score lower than the average for the African continent. This demonstrates Madagascar’s difficulties in putting an end to corrupt practices within the state.
Over the years, corruption scandals have multiplied, highlighting the mismanagement of public funds. For example, in 2022, the Court of Auditors pointed the finger at the executive for its management of Covid funds. Nearly 972 million ariary, intended to fight the pandemic, were likely to be misappropriated. Despite this, no concrete action has been taken by the anti-corruption authorities.
Impunity and powerlessness are the main reasons for this stagnation in the fight against corruption, according to Ketakandriana Rafitoson, executive director of Transparency International Initiative Madagascar. The resources allocated to anti-corruption institutions are very limited, with only 0.13% of the state budget dedicated to them. There is therefore a gap between speeches promoting the fight against corruption and concrete actions, symbolized by a paltry budget. Furthermore, Madagascar never managed to reach its 2012 score, which was 32/100.
Faced with this alarming reality, Transparency International calls on the Malagasy government to take more concrete measures. Augustin Andriamananoro, Minister of Communication and Culture, affirmed the support of the executive in the fight against corruption. However, he recognizes that there is still a long way to go and that additional efforts must be undertaken.
In 2018, during his re-election, the Malagasy president pledged to eradicate corruption. However, this commitment is slow to materialize. Transparency International therefore sets objectives for Madagascar, namely achieving a score of 30/100 by 2027, then aiming for a score of 60/100 by 2040, corresponding to Botswana’s current performance.
The fight against corruption remains a major challenge for Madagascar. It is essential that the authorities take stronger measures to stem this phenomenon, in order to guarantee a more impartial and equitable future for the country.
Research:
– https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20230130-madagascar-index-perception-corruption-transparence