Dirty Dozen: The Most Corrupt Nations in the World

The diamond mining, for example is held by the government with Canada holding other half, how much was paid for this concession is unknown. The corruption of the government dampens most foreign investors.

Every aspect, from electricity production to road works is beset by corruption. Doing business in Guinea is a matter of bribes, kickbacks and looking the other way.

Sudan at number six is considered the second most unstable country in the world. The continued crisis in Darfur has not effected it’s economic growth as Sudan is the 17th fastest growing economy in the world.

Foreign Aid is often misdirected, human rights are non- existent. Much of the conflict is due to the unfair distribution of wealth in the country.

Afghanistan is a newcomer, only appearing on this list in 2007 but has already achieved number five position.

It has always been an extremely poor country, split into many tribes. The current War on Terror has merely brought new blood to spill on its soil.

Most of its economy is in the illegal poppy trade. Poppies are refined into opium, morphine and heroin. These drugs are sold to the various drug cartels.

Some 3.3 million Afghans are involved in producing opium.

Much of the violence is not particularly religious or national, it concerns wars over the drug trade.

Of course, with an actual war going on, there’s lots of money to be made.

Haiti has worked hard to reach number four, moving down each year. It has remained the least developed nation in the Western Hemisphere. 80% of the population lives in poverty. 30% to 40% of its economy is foreign aid.

Despite attempts to assist Haiti over the decades there has been no change in the situation. This is because
while millions live in abject poverty, there is an incredibly wealthy aristocracy.  So clear is the divide between
the classes, that after the January 2010 Earthquake, space was gained at the airport by having the owners
move their private planes, which took up more than 2/3rds of the hangar space.

Iraq has gained number three place due to the war the United States is waging. Most rebuilding efforts are beset by corruption. Much of the Aid disappears and various projects do not exist. The problem is that members of the Baath Party or of the army are barred from a role in Iraq, hence America is forced into dealing with persons who are dishonest, who are profitting from the corruption, but because they seem to ’support’ America, they can not be replaced.

Myanmar (Burma) is number two. It is governed by a military dictatorship, with no human rights to speak of. Elections are such that in some villages, polling station officials mark the ballots.

There is no independent judiciary, the government restricts Internet access. There is forced labour, human trafficking and child labour are common. The military which rules uses sexual violence, systematic rapes and taking of sex slaves as porters for the military are common.

The government hinders all international humanitarian assistance. It spends the least percentage of its GDP on health care of any country in the world.

Its export of opium equals all legal exports. Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise launders drug money. The number of hectares to grow Opium poppies increased 29% in 2007.

It is one of poorest nations and was once the world’s largest exporter of rice. In 2007 it shared top ‘honours’ with Somalia as the most corrupt country in the world, but has slipped in the past year to number two. Or Somalia has increased it’s level of corruption.

Somalia has reached number one. This may be due to the fact that there is no government in Somalia. Various regional authorities operate on the level of mega-gangs.

Somaliland in the North has declared independence but is unrecognised.

Despite this, many foreign companies thrive in Somalia. It’s private wireless networks provide better service than in neighbouring countries. Internet usage increased by 44,900% between 2000, when it first became available, and 2007. It has the cheapest cellular calling rates, some companies charging less than a cent a minute.

The question is whether a country where corruption is the form of governance should be on this list at all.