Transparency

Countries in the Middle East and North Africa region face a common set of structural barriers that constrain their ability to detect, investigate and recover corruption-related stolen assets.

New analysis by Transparency International traces how illicit funds are generated, hidden and moved across the Middle East and North Africa and beyond – draining resources as crises deepen Source image: klyaksun/Shutterstock Posted on: 13 May 2026 Isam Haj Hussein Executive Director, Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (AMAN) Here in Palestine, civilians are bearing the brunt of repeated military escalation, mass displacement, and the destruction of essential services, as humanitarian...

In sub-Saharan Africa, corruption is often part of people’s everyday interactions with public services, including those related to land, reflecting the experience of one in five citizens. At its core, land corruption occurs when entrusted power is abused for private gain in the administration and management of land – often enabled by broader governance shortcomings and weaknesses in the systems in place.

Fossil fuel interests continue to delay progress in global climate diplomacy. Recent geopolitical tensions underscore what’s at stake. Disruptions in the Middle East, including threats to trade through the Strait of Hormuz, have rattled oil and gas markets, exposing the fragility of fossil fuel-dependent energy systems. COP30 failed to confront the fossil fuels driving the crisis. The world cannot afford another year of weak ambition.

In 2016, the Panama Papers pulled back the curtain on a financial system designed to operate in secrecy. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, working with Süddeutsche Zeitung and more than 100 media partners, analysed a cache of 11.5 million leaked documents from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.

Summary Nicolas Sarkozy is accused of accepting illegal financing from Libya for his 2007 presidential campaign; in 2025 he was convicted of criminal conspiracy and received a five‑year prison sentence. He has appealed the ruling. Transparency International France – who has been recognised as a civil party - is challenging the dismissal of corruption charges and advocating for stronger political finance rules.

Who will take the lead in the fight against corruption? The 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) shows that corruption remains a serious threat in every part of the world, although there are limited signs of progress. Leaders must act to tackle abuses of power and the wider factors driving this decline, such as the roll-back of democratic checks and balances, and attacks on independent civil society.

Berlin, 10 February 2026 – The Americas show no progress in the fight against corruption, according to Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) published today, with the region scoring an average of just 42 out of 100. Since 2012,12 of the 33 countries have significantly worsened, while only Dominican Republic (37) and Guyana (40) have significantly improved, highlighting a decade of stalled or reversed efforts.

Summary The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025 ranks 182 countries and territories: the global average dropped to 42, and 122 countries score below 50, signalling widespread public sector corruption. Only five countries now score above 80 (down from 12 a decade ago), and recent slippage in high-scoring democracies shows corruption risks can rise even where institutions once looked secure.

Berlin, 10 February 2026 – Despite ranking as the world's least corrupt region, progress against corruption in Western Europe and the European Union (EU) has stalled over the past decade. The region’s average CPI score has fallen from 66 to 64, with 13 countries seeing significant declines and only seven making improvements, underscoring a widening gap between anti-corruption standards, enforcement and the integrity of those in power.