Findings of the Corruption Perception Report in the MENA Region, 2023 reveal a reverse relationship between democracy and corruption
The AMAN coalition calls on the states with the highest ranking of integrity on the index to comply with its moral and legal obligations and compel “Israel” to enforce the resolution of the International Court of Justice
Ramallah: Transparency International issued the findings of the Corruption Perception Index for the year 2023. The findings did not show any significant change in the corruption perceptions in the Middle East and North Africa Region in general. The index remained low, scoring (37.5 to 38 out of 100). CPI is a compound index used to assess the perception of corruption in the public sector only. it focuses on the legislative, political and economic environment as well as the governance levels and procedures in the countries. It relies on 13 independent sources of information, mostly reports and surveys carried out by experts in each country and studies prepared by independent think tanks and international organizations. The information is analyzed by external experts assigned by Transparency International. To add any country to the Index, at least three conditions must be fulfilled in the sources adopted. Consequently, Transparency International was unable to include Palestine in the Index because of the lack of the adopted sources of information. It should be noted that the CPI ranks the score on a scale from zero to one hundred for each country, where zero refers to the most corrupt and 100 to the highest level of integrity and least corrupt.
AMAN Coalition calls on the countries with the highest integrity rate to perform their moral and legal duty and compel “Israel” to enforce the resolution of the International Court of Justice
In light of the CPI findings for this year, the Coalition for Integrity and Accountability – AMAN, the National Chapter of Transparency International, urged the countries with the highest score – that is the countries, that showed the highest degree of integrity on the CPO – to comply with their moral and legal obligations and abide “Israel” to implement the ICJ resolution and enforce the ordered temporary measures without delay in relation to the Genocide it is committing against the Palestinian people, more specifically in Gaza. The call comes after ICJ found the accusations raised by South Africa against Israel plausible and held it accountable for its action under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
AMAN Coalition welcomed the ICJ resolution, which is final, binding, and non-appealable Although it did not include an immediate ceasefire, the AMAN Coalition underlines its importance, stressing the responsibility that falls on the international community to support this decision. Indeed, this ICJ resolution sets a precedent as it subjected “Israel” for the first time in history to accountability and held it responsible for its actions in a step toward dismantling the apartheid regime on which it is based.
The AMAN Coalition indicated that its donors ranked on the top level of the Corruption Perception Index in terms of integrity; they include Denmark 90%, Norway 84%, the Netherlands 79% and Luxembourg 78%. These same countries reiterated their moral obligation toward supporting the cause of the Palestinian people and their right to freedom and self-determination.
CPI Key Findings for MENA Region
The findings of the CPI did not reveal any significant change in the corruption perception in the Middle East and North African Region in general. The Index remained at a low score (37.5 -38 out of 100). A closer examination showed that only three countries received a score that is higher than 50 out of 100; they are namely the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, which received 68%, 58%, and 52% respectively. Moreover, six out of 18 MENA countries showed noticeable improvement in their CPI score in 2023. They are Algeria 36%, Egypt 35%, Kuwait 46%, Libya 18%, Saudi Arabia 52%. On the other hand, seven countries remained at the same level or showed regression in terms of anti-corruption efforts. They are Qatar 58%, Tunisia 40%, Morocco 38%, Lebanon 24%, Iraq 23%, Yemen 16%, and Syria 13%.
Other countries with serious challenges to democracy, political participation, human rights, and public freedoms showed a slight drop in CPI; they are (Jordan, Oman, and Bahrain) with scores of (46%, 43%, and 42% respectively).
The Occupying State (Israel) regressed by one point on the CPI in 2023
The Occupying State (Israel) recorded a decrease of one point compared to last year, scoring 62%. This is an indication of a regression in the state of democracy and the attempts of the current ruling coalition authority to weaken the judiciary in favor of the executive power. The regression is also attributed to the enactment of racial Jewish National State Law in addition to scandals of corruption and official investigation against the Israeli Prime Minister, Benyamin Netanyahu.
Peaceful rotation of power impacts the assessment of the country
Some countries exercised the pillars of democracy and peace rotation of power by holding periodic elections to promote civic and political participation in the public sphere and decision-making. Egypt improved by five points on CPI in 2023 by scoring 35% (regular presidential and parliamentary elections). Kuwait improved by four points, scoring 46%. Algeria achieved a three-point increase, scoring 36%. On the contrary, other Arab countries suffer from a lack of a peaceful rotation of power, which weakens open and political participation in public life and decision-making. Consequently, the chances of political corruption increase thus undermining the pillars of democracy, human rights, and social justice.
Abundance of resources due to exportation of oil and gas enabled the Gulf Cooperation Countries to provide a large spectrum of social services to their citizens
Although the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Saudi Arabi do not enjoy a peaceful rotation of power and open political participation – which represent the key tenets of governance integrity -, economic welfare, abundant financial resources and the shift to web-based public services had a positive effect on the perception of corruption. This is due to huge state resources with strong economies and equal opportunities for the majority of citizens to have access to public services, including economic ones. As a result, large segments of citizens are immune to marginalization. With social justice, the inclination to any form of corruption like favoritism or bribery to access public services decreases. UAE achieved a very high score in this regard (68%).
Persistent internal conflicts continue to facilitate the impunity of corrupt officials and undermine the rule of law and social justice
The ongoing regional wars and conflicts combined with the political instability and economic challenges in the region compromised the ability of these states to improve their anti-corruption efforts. This situation sustained political corruption, regression of human rights, weak justice, and impeded equal opportunities and equity, expanding thus the segment of the marginalized and weakening social protection systems in MENA in general. It should noted that Yemen and Syria suffer from political turmoil and conflicts and continue to score the lowest points on the Index (Yemen 16% and Syria 13%).
Disclosure of conflict of interest remains ineffective in the MENA Region countries
The continuing lack of regulatory and institutional framework for the prevention of conflict of interest in the exercise of power in many countries in the region (UAW, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon) enables the ruling elites to hegemonize public resources and gear them to serve the private interests of some officials and their allies rather than the public interest. This situation weakens the integrity of governance, broadens gaps among social classes, and undermines the social protection systems and social justice. As a result, the United Nations Convention Against Corruption cannot be fully implemented and the same applies to the Sustainable Development Goals, mainly SDG 16.
In Palestine: Protracted occupation and political division with a regression of governance integrity and deepening gaps among social classes obstruct anti-corruption efforts
The Coalition for Integrity and Accountability – AMAN (The National Chapter of Transparency International in Palestine) believes that although Palestine has not been listed on CPI for almost 16 years for reasons related to the non-availability of at least three independent sources of information (of the 13 adopted sources), Palestine could not rank any better than other countries in the Region. There are serious challenges associated with the protraction of the Israeli occupation and its measures against the Palestinians in addition to the ongoing Palestinian split and weak governance integrity because of the non-organization of public elections and shutdown of the Legislative Council. Additionally, Palestine suffers from weak transparency in public administration and management of public resources and budget, as well as a lack of involvement of the civil society in the management of public affairs and funds, and the ongoing enactment of laws and resolutions that serve the political elite and compromise the public interests. All these factors deepen social differences and hinder anti-corruption efforts.
