The NGO Transparency International unveiled its annual corruption perception index on Tuesday January 30 during an event in Antananarivo. Among 180 countries, Madagascar obtains a score of 25/100 in 2023 – 0 being the highest level of corruption. A sign that the Big Island is struggling to stem bad practices within the State, this score, lower than the average for the African continent, has remained almost unchanged in recent years.
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with our correspondent in Antananarivo, Pauline Le Troquier
On the front pages, corruption scandals have become even more numerous in recent years. In 2022 for example, the Court of Auditors calls the executive into question for its management of Covid funds: 972 million ariary dedicated to fighting the pandemic present a risk of misappropriation, points out the institution. However, the affair did not give rise to any action known to the anti-corruption authorities.
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Impunity and powerlessness, these are the reasons for the status quo, believes Ketakandriana Rafitoson, executive director of Transparency Madagascar. “ The resources allocated to anti-corruption institutions are very limited. Last year, there was only 0.13% of the state budget that [leur] was allocated. So there is a gap once again between the declarations of priority and the practice which is the presentation of a ridiculous budget. We have never found our score from 2012, for example, which was 32/100, while anti-corruption speeches are increasing.. »
An appeal launched directly to the Malagasy Minister of Communication and Culture, Augustin Andriamananoro, who came yesterday to deliver the executive’s message for this second term. “ It is completely natural to come and support Transparency’s efforts to first show our support and affirm our determination.
The particularity when we were appointed among the members of the government is that we took an oath before the nation, before God, in a state palace to once again demonstrate our commitment to fight against corruption. Madagascar is not among the model students, nor among the worst. But the work is immense.»
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In 2018, the re-elected head of state had already promised “ eradication of corruption “. This year, ” we will take the government at its word », Warns Transparency straight away. The NGO sets a first realistic objective for Madagascar: to achieve a score of 30/100 on its corruption perception index by 2027. More ambitious, by 2040, the expected score is 60/100, i.e. Botswana’s current performance.