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African states silently mark the continent's inaugural Anti-Corruption Day

African states silently mark the continent's inaugural Anti-Corruption Day

African Union

The African Union marked the first African Anti-Corruption Day on Tuesday July 11, 2017 to commemorate the adoption of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC).

The day was somewhat marked silently in the continent as no African country released a statement in recognition of the day set aside to express commitment towards the fight against corruption.

But for a statement from the African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the day would have been forgotten.

Today is the inaugural African Anti Corruption Day+ 2018 the annual AU theme will focus on the fight against graft. https://t.co/t3MZyPs9NO

— Moussa Faki Mahamat (@MoussaFaki_M) July 11, 2017

“We need to wage an aggressive fight against those who practice corruption and institutions that benefit from the proceeds of corruption to restore public trust in our institutions on the Continent,” Mahamat said.

He also called on African states that have not ratified and acceded to the Convention to do so “in order to solidify the continent’s political commitment towards a corrupt free, citizen-driven, democratically governed Africa, as envisioned by Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.”

It is worthy to note that the United Nations annually observes the International Anti-Corruption Day on December 9 to raise awareness about corruption and how to fight it.

Since its adoption on July, 11 2003 in Maputo, Mozambique, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) has been ratified by only 37 African countries out of the 49 who are signatories to the Convention.

The Central African Republic, Cape Verde and recently joined Morocco are not signatories to the Convention.

However, Angola, Cameroon, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Mauritania, Mauritius, Somalia, South Sudan, Sao Tome & Principe, Sudan, Swaziland, and Tunisia have not ratified to the Convention.

By ratifying the AUCPCC, all State Parties are expected to domesticate their national legislative and policy instruments aimed at combating corruption.

The African Union has also declared 2018 as the African Anti-Corruption Year.