The anti-bribery standard-setting organization TRACE has released this year’s Bribery Risk Matrix, which measures business bribery risk in 194 countries, territories, and autonomous and semi-autonomous regions. According to the 2020 data, North Korea, Turkmenistan, South Sudan, Venezuela and Eritrea present the highest commercial bribery risk, while Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden and New Zealand present the lowest. The score is based on four factors: business interactions with government, anti-bribery deterrence and enforcement, government and civil service transparency, and capacity for civil society oversight, including the role of the media. Each country is given a score from 1 to 100 for each domain and the total bribery risk. A higher score indicates a higher risk of business bribery. Assessments of whether a given domain score is “good” or “poor” are made relative to all other jurisdictions within that domain. Below are the five African countries that have the least possibility of public officials asking for bribes.
Mauritius
Mauritius ranked 44 globally with an overall score of 35 (essentially ranking first in Africa). On the parameter used to measure the risk of bribery, it ranked 34 on Business Interactions with Government due to a low degree of government interaction, a medium expectation of bribes, and a low regulatory burden. It scored 38 on Antibribery Deterrence and Enforcement based on a medium quality of antibribery dissuasion and a high quality of antibribery enforcement. On Government and Civil Service Transparency, it scored 42 because of medium governmental transparency and medium transparency of financial interests. It, however, received a good score on Capacity for Civil Society Oversight. Mauritius receives a good score of 28 in this domain, based on a medium degree of media freedom/quality and a high degree of civil society engagement.
Botswana
Botswana was ranked 53 (and second in Africa) with an overall score of 39.On Business Interactions with Government, the East African country scored 43 based on a medium degree of government interaction, a low expectation of bribes, and a medium regulatory burden. However, it scored 29 on Antibribery Deterrence and Enforcement based on the high quality of antibribery dissuasion and high quality of antibribery enforcement. Botswana received a medium score of 49 Government and Civil Service Transparency. It was based on medium governmental transparency and good transparency of financial interests. On building the Capacity for Civil Society Oversight, Botswana received a good score of 28 in this domain, based on a medium degree of media freedom/quality and a high degree of civil society engagement.
Tunisia
Tunisia ranked 55 (and third in Africa) with an overall risk score of 40. On Business Interactions with Government, the North African country scored 42 based on a medium degree of government interaction, a low expectation of bribes, and a medium regulatory burden. However, it scored 50 on Antibribery Deterrence and Enforcement based on the high quality of antibribery dissuasion and high quality of antibribery enforcement. Tunisia received a medium score of 46 Government and Civil Service Transparency. It was based on medium governmental transparency and good transparency of financial interests. On building the Capacity for Civil Society Oversight Botswana received a good score of 24 in this domain, based on a medium degree of media freedom/quality and a high degree of civil society engagement.
Namibia
Namibia’s overall position was 58 (and fourth in Africa) with a bribery risk score of 41. It ranked 44 on Business Interactions with Government due to a low degree of government interaction, a medium expectation of bribes, and a low regulatory burden. It scored 51 on Antibribery Deterrence and Enforcement based on a medium quality of antibribery dissuasion and a high quality of antibribery enforcement. On Government and Civil Service Transparency, it scored 43 because of medium governmental transparency and medium transparency of financial interests. It, however, received a good score on Capacity for Civil Society Oversight. Namibia received a good score of 27 in this domain, based on a medium degree of media freedom/quality and a high degree of civil society engagement.
South Africa
South Africa is Africa’s second-largest economy. Overall, it ranked 61 (and fifth in Africa) with a bribery risk score of 41. On the factors used to assess the countries, it scored 51 Antibribery Deterrence and Enforcement based on a medium quality of antibribery dissuasion and a high quality of antibribery enforcement. South Africa received a medium score of 60 on Antibribery Deterrence and Enforcement, based on the low quality of antibribery dissuasion and medium quality of antibribery enforcement. On Government and Civil Service Transparency, South Africa received a good score of 29, based on good governmental transparency and good transparency of financial interests. It, however, received a good score on Capacity for Civil Society Oversight. South Africa received a good score of 24 in this domain, based on a medium degree of media freedom/quality and a high degree of civil society engagement.