Corruption Archives

IRAQ: Cronyism in U.S. Contracts Clouds Fundraising

A recent political ad campaign highlighting corruption and cronyism in U.S. contracts awarded to rebuild Iraq takes a shot at a major corporation with ties to the White House.

CORRUPTION-KENYA: Gov’t Weeds Out ‘Rotten Judges’

By IPS Correspondents

Kimani Mburu knows what it feels like to hang around court corridors in pursuit of justice.

CORRUPTION-PARAGUAY: Scandal Strikes at Highest Level

By IPS Correspondents

A scandal in Paraguay involving more than a million contraband compact discs and the obstruction of investigation by officials has cost the jobs of three men close to President Nicanor Duarte Frutos.

CORRUPTION-ROMANIA: Not As Good As Dracula Any More

By IPS Correspondents

Ask a Romanian to name a national hero, and most will mention Vlad the Impaler, the 15th century leader admired for his vicious zero tolerance of criminals.

PARAGUAY: South America’s Leader in Corruption – Again

By IPS Correspondents

Paraguay remains the most corrupt country in South America, the second in the Americas after Haiti, and the fourth-most corrupt country in the world, according to Transparency International's new report.

POLITICS: Watchdog Group Ranks Cleanest and Dirtiest Gov’ts

By Emad Mekay

Corruption is not only rampant in developing nations but in many rich nations as well, says a watchdog group that monitors corruption among civil servants and politicians across the globe.

POLITICS-ZIMBABWE: Officials Defy Mugabe’s Ultimatum, Hang Onto Farms

By IPS Correspondents

A government report into Zimbabwe's controversial land reform programme has opened a can of worms, throwing the spotlight on corruption surrounding the ownership of multiple farms by senior government officials and others close to the establishment.

CORRUPTION: It Still Pays to Dig Dirt

By Miren Gutierrez

When Ida Tarbell published her articles on John D. Rockefeller's monopolistic excesses, the tycoon dubbed her ”Miss Tarbarrel”.. Years later in 1911 the U.S. Supreme Court declared his firm 'The Standard Oil' an ”unreasonable” monopoly, and ordered it dissolved.

PARAGUAY: Turning the Screws on Corruption – but Not Too Tight

By IPS Correspondents

The fight against corruption was one of the main campaign pledges of Paraguay's new President Nicanor Duarte, and several measures indicate that he has begun to rigorously crack down on graft.

TRANSPORT: Nigeria Turns to Foreign Contractors

By Toye Olori

Travellers describe the appalling state of the road in southeast Nigeria as hell on earth.

TRADE: Kenya Woos Investors

By IPS Correspondents

For years investors boycotted Kenya and went to do business next door in Uganda and Tanzania.

POLITICS: Peacekeepers Secure Liberian Town, Warn All Fighters to Leave

By Lansana Fofana

West African peacekeepers from Guinea Bissau Wednesday said they were now in full control of the Liberian city of Kakata after days of sporadic battles between government forces and the main rebel group, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Development (LURD).

POLITICS-SUDAN: Crucial Talks to End Africa’s Longest War

By IPS Correspondents

International pressure is mounting on the government of Sudan and the main rebel movement, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), to make peace or risk sanctions.

CORRUPTION-SOUTHERN AFRICA: Poverty Fuels Corporate Bribery

By IPS Correspondents

Corporations stand accused of breeding corruption in Southern Africa as they pursue lucrative government contracts.

ENERGY-NIGERIA: Crude Oil Theft Costs Millions of Dollars

By Toye Olori

Nigeria lost 6.1 million barrels of crude oil, worth about 151 million U.S. dollars, to theft during the first quarter of this year, government officials say.

POLITICS-LIBERIA: U.S. Pullback Brakes Momentum, Experts Say

By Marty Logan

Washington's removal of U.S. marines from Monrovia to ships offshore will hurt the recovery of war-weary Liberia in both real and symbolic ways, say humanitarian and political experts.

DEVELOPMENT-AFRICA: Leaders Appeal for Talks Not War

By James Hall

If Africa is to advance economically and socially, sincere dialoguing must replace armed conflict, strikes and dirty politics, delegates at a heads of state summit held in Swaziland this week agreed.

CORRUPTION-NIGERIA: Time Up for Dishonest Police Officers

By Toye Olori

The dismissal of 34 police officers in Lagos at the weekend shows the seriousness of the new inspector general of police, Tafa Balogun in fighting corruption and redeeming the image of the force, say observers.

CORRUPTION: Murky Business in Oil

By Miren Gutierrez

Transparency is not one of oil's properties; corruption seems to rise to its surface wherever it is found. Is oil intrinsically dirty?

POLITICS-ZAMBIA: Anti-Corruption Campaign Moves into High Gear

By IPS Correspondents

As Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa's anti-corruption moves into high gear, he himself has been accused of several charges of corruption - not in court though, but in the supreme lawmaking body - the national assembly.

AUSTRALIA: Pacific Nations Wary about Overhaul of Islands Forum

By IPS Correspondents

A major shake-up of regional security, aid and development programmes is likely after the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Auckland over the weekend, now that regional heavyweight Australia has gotten its way in having a national lead the key Pacific grouping.