CONCOURS GÉNÉRAL SÉNÉGALAIS

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07 1 CGS 08 01 Durée : 5 heures Toutes séries réunies CLASSES DE PREMIÈRE

SESSION 2007

ANGLAIS
CORRUPTION IN AFRICA Public outrage about corruption in Africa has been openly expressed since early 1990, spawned by pro-democracy movements that drew large numbers of people into political debate and encouraged them to organize street protests, and strikes. And other outbursts of discontent introduced multiparty politics to many Africans and even sometimes urged people to remove unpopular leaders, either through the ballot-box or outright revolt. The emerging pro-democracy forces not only asserted the right of ordinary citizens to speak out and organize independently of the State, but demanded accountability from their elected officials. High-level state corruption became a prominent target. Its punishment and eradication were frequently demanded by those assembled behind democratic banners. Independent newspapers and magazines ran numerous exposés. Trade-unions, popular organizations and opposition parties urged the removal of officials and the recovery of embezzled funds. Elected legislators and members of incoming governments drafted codes of conduct and appointed investigative panels to cleanse the bureaucratic apparatus. These actors view corruption as vicious to democratic practice because, by its very nature, it despises public scrutiny. And since it propped up many greatly disliked governments and administrations through political patronage, efforts by new democratic forces to expose and limit corruption weakened supporters of the old regime. Corruption leads to a loss of faith in the government and non-compliance with laws and regulations. Economic development requires not only sound economic policies but also compliance and cooperation of government officials and citizens in implementing these policies. One problem facing reformers such as African policymakers and non governmental organizations is to sift through