Corruption Perception Index: Mauritius Stagnates, 5th in Africa

Mauritius finds itself stagnating at 51 points in the 2024 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), earning a global ranking of 56 out of 180 nations. According to a statement from Transparency Mauritius released on 11 February, the island remains fifth in Africa, trailing only behind the Seychelles, Cape Verde, Botswana, and Rwanda. However, this stable score should not be mistaken for progress.

Since 2012, the country has experienced a disconcerting decline in its score, slipping from 57 points to 51, signalling a troubling stagnation in the battle against corruption.

Despite the theoretical efforts at improved governance, this lack of significant progress is raising serious concerns, especially in light of last year’s events that exposed glaring institutional weaknesses and a profound lack of transparency in public structures.

The introduction of new metrics, such as the African Development Bank’s CPIA, aimed at evaluating governance and public policy, has failed to initiate a positive shift.

On the contrary, this new data is underscoring the persistence of major deficiencies in vital governance areas.

The decline in key indices, including the Varieties of Democracy index, which fell from 43 to 41 points, and the World Economic Forum’s index, which dropped from 57 to 55 points, revealing an evident weakening of the essential pillars of democracy and governance in Mauritius.

Proposals that could have served as catalysts for improvement, such as legislation on party financing and protections for whistleblowers, remain conspicuously absent from the nation’s legislative landscape.

These mechanisms are critical for bolstering transparency and accountability within public institutions.

Back in 2016, Mauritius set an ambitious goal of achieving 60 points on the CPI.

Yet, to date, there has been a glaring absence of genuine political will to implement robust reforms that would ensure a more transparent environment conducive to combating corruption.

The lack of transparency in the use of climate funds further undermines the efficacy of environmental policies in Mauritius, akin to issues faced in many other countries.

While the current government has purported climate governance as a priority, it is essential to ensure that financing allocated for climate action is utilised transparently and effectively.

To safeguard against any risk of misappropriation or abuse, climate action governance must come equipped with clear mechanisms.

Transparency Mauritius is calling on the government to implement concrete measures to enhance transparency and strengthen public institutions, particularly in sensitive sectors like the environment.

Immediate and tangible action is needed to reverse this stagnation in the fight against corruption.

The government’s newfound commitment to transparency and good governance must translate into measurable reforms to restore citizens’ trust in their institutions.

Source: l’Express