Reconstructing the Elusive Fight against Corruption in Africa: The Quest for Re-characterization of Political Corruption as an International Crime

Abstract

Corruption remains the major hindrance to prosperity of the African continent in all spheres. It is the single greatest challenge to Africa's realization human rights, democracy, economic growth as well as peace and stability. Whereas the anti-corruption discourse dates back to the colonial periods of the various African countries and has continued for decades, no significant progress has been made.  Increase in corruption levels in Africa is directly linked to political corruption. The paper argues that national mechanisms against political corruption in African countries are incapable of being effectively deployed. This is because the perpetrators of political corruption are the same ones who constitute African Governments that are supposed to enforce anti-corruption laws. This paper calls for a shift from national mechanisms to international mechanisms for fighting political corruption by re-characterizing political corruption as an international crime and incorporated in the Rome Statute, and appropriate amendments made to the Statute to align political corruption to the requisite threshold for classification.