World Bank Report Shows Some Progress In Africa On Corruption

“Africa, often characterized as a place of epic corruption and misrule, emerged in a World Bank report released Tuesday as a continent of great variety, with some countries making extraordinary progress over the past decade, while others have moved backwards. …” [The International Herald Tribune]

BBC reports that “… The Bank's Governance Matters, 2007: Worldwide Governance Indicators 1996-2006 study highlighted the number of African countries that had made great strides in improving various aspects of government. Kenya, Niger and Sierra Leone, which suffered a decade of civil war until 2002, were picked out for marked improvements in allowing their people the right to choose their government and freedom of expression, which includes an unconstrained press. Angola, Rwanda and Sierra Leone were also acknowledged for their enhanced political stability. …” [BBC (UK)]

Guardian Unlimited adds that the World Bank also said Tuesday …that many poor countries had significantly improved governance and clamped down on corruption in recent years. ‘Such improvements are critical for aid effectiveness and for sustained long-run growth,’ said Daniel Kaufmann, co-author of the report and director of global programs at the World Bank Institute. …” [Guardian Unlimited/Factiva]