Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) was released today, and the picture it paints for Africa is varied, marked by both fragile progress and worrying reversals.
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, the regional average remains 32/100, the lowest of any region globally, emphasising how deeply corruption continues to shape governance, service delivery, and public trust. Compared to 2024, a small number of African countries recorded modest improvements, often linked to sustained institutional reforms, stronger oversight bodies, and more active civil society engagement. Countries like Senegal (46/100) and Côte d’Ivoire (43/100) illustrate how incremental gains are possible where reforms are protected and enforcement is credible. Seychelles (68/100) remains a beacon, showing how investment in justice institutions and enforcement can translate into long-term progress.
At the same time, declines and stagnation dominate much of the continent. Several countries continue to struggle with weakened checks and balances, shrinking civic space, and politicised justice systems. Dynamics that the CPI identifies as key drivers of declining scores. In conflict-affected and highly repressive contexts, including South Sudan (9/100) and Somalia (9/100), corruption remains systemic and deeply entrenched, with devastating consequences for development and human security.
One of the most striking insights in the 2025 report is the clear link between corruption, civic space, and democracy. Countries where media freedom and civil society are under pressure are far more likely to see corruption worsen. Conversely, even where improvements are recorded, the CPI cautions that top-down or authoritarian “control” approaches are fragile and easily reversed without independent institutions and public accountability.
The takeaway for Africa in 2025 is clear. Progress against corruption is possible, but it is neither automatic nor inevitable. Where reforms are piecemeal, politicised, or disconnected from citizen oversight, gains quickly stall or unravel. As the CPI reminds us, strong institutions, protected civic space, and credible accountability mechanisms are not optional extras. They are the foundation of sustainable development and democratic resilience.
Read the full report here: https://www.transparency.org/
