Sudan and South Sudan are among the top five most corrupt countries on Earth, according to a new ranking by global anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International.
Transparency International ranked 175 countries and territories in its annual Corruption Perceptions Index, giving scores ranging from 0 ‘highly corrupt’ to 100 ‘very clean’ based on expert opinions from around the world.
South Sudan was ranked the fifth most corrupt country, scoring 15 out of 100 possible points. Sudan was the third most corrupt with just 11 points. Only North Korea and Somalia scored lower.
“The Corruption Perceptions Index ranks countries and territories based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be,” Transparency International said. “A poor score is likely a sign of widespread bribery, lack of punishment for corruption, and public institutions that don’t respond to citizens’ needs.”
“Countries at the bottom need to adopt radical anti-corruption measures in favour of their people,” said José Ugaz, chair of Transparency International. “Countries at the top of the index should make sure they don’t export corrupt practices to underdeveloped countries.”
No country received a perfect score. Denmark was ranked least corrupt with a score of 92.
Photo: Members of the South Sudan Civil Society Alliance (SSCSA) during a peaceful demonstration calling for the prosecution of corrupt government officials, 13 June 2013 (Gurtong)