The government of Afghanistan can only ensure the survival of the state and bring about peace if it acts immediately to prevent corruption, limit political interference and nepotism, and bring the corrupt to justice. That is according to a new report from the anti-corruption pressure group Transparency International and its national partner Integrity Watch Afghanistan.
As an assessment of Afghanistan’s capacity to fight corruption, National Integrity System Assessment: Afghanistan 2015 identifies the weaknesses that have undermined the effectiveness of billions of dollars of international funding and contributed to the war in the country. It makes recommendations to improve Afghanistan’s chances of establishing a viable government with trusted institutions.
Srirak Plipat, Regional Director for Asia Pacific at Transparency International, said: “President Ghani has pledged to uproot corruption – this report gives him a road map for action. Afghanistan urgently needs strong and independent institutions, free from political influence, with genuine capacity to prevent and prosecute corruption.”
For the full 200-page report visit the TI website.
The authors say that experience from post-conflict countries around the world shows that widespread corruption undermines the authority of the state and its institutions and provides fertile ground for criminal networks to develop and insurgents to operate. Corruption also deprives the poor and vulnerable of essential services and limits their access to justice. By weakening the bonds of trust between citizens and the state, it heightens the risk of conflict.
