Addis Ababa, 11 July 2017: On the inaugural African Anti-Corruption Day dedicated to giving prominence to the anti-Corruption fight on the Continent following an Executive Council decision to declare 11 July of every year as the “African Anti-Corruption Day” to commemorate the adoption of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC), the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, notes with appreciation that the dedication of a specific African Continent’s fight against corruption marks an important step towards the Africa we want.

“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. To ensure and sustain the level of commitment of combating corruption, the Assembly of the African Union also declared 2018 as “the African Anti-Corruption Year”. The year will be celebrated under the theme: ‘Winning the Fight Against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation’,” Chairperson Faki pointed out.

Corruption is undoubtedly the most pressing governance and development challenge that Africa is confronted with today as its debilitating and corrosive effects reverse hard-won developmental gains and threaten progress, stability and development of the Continent.

The African Union first adopted the AUCPCC by the 2nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union on 11 July 2003 in Maputo, Mozambique. By ratifying the AUCPCC, all State Parties to this Convention are expected to domesticate their national legislative and policy instruments aimed at combatting corruption.

The Chairperson urges all Member States of the AU, that have not yet done so, to ratify and accede to the Convention, 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.