BAGHDAD/ERBIL,— Iraq has made significant progress in its efforts to combat corruption, rising 14 positions in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), according to Transparency International.
The anti-corruption watchdog’s 2024 report ranked Iraq 140th out of 180 countries.
Iraq, which was ranked 154th out of 180 nations in 2023, has improved from its 2019 position when it was listed as the 17th most corrupt nation in the world, at 162nd place. In 2018, Iraq ranked 168th.
The CPI evaluates 180 countries and territories, ranking them based on the perceived level of corruption in their public sectors. The rankings are determined by a score that ranges from 0, representing highly corrupt, to 100, indicating a very clean government.
The 2024 report shows that Iraq’s recent improvements reflect ongoing reforms and initiatives aimed at strengthening governmental institutions under Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s administration.
Despite Iraq’s overall improvement, the situation in the Kurdistan Region remains a point of concern. Transparency International’s rankings highlight Iraq and its Kurdistan Region as one entity in terms of corruption perception.
The Kurdistan Region remains regarded as the most corrupt part of Iraq, according to local Kurdish lawmakers and several leaked documents, which suggest that billions of dollars in oil revenues are unaccounted for in the region.
Analysts and local watchdog organizations have pointed to the lack of control mechanisms in Iraqi Kurdistan, which they say facilitates illegal financial activities.
The ruling Barzani family, often referred to as the “Kurdish oligarchs,” has faced numerous accusations of nepotism and enriching themselves through the oil business at the expense of the population.
According to analysts, Massoud Barzani, the tribal leader and president of the KDP party, remains the region’s most influential figure. His son, Masrour Barzani, serves as the prime minister, while his nephew, Nechirvan Barzani, holds the position of president of the Kurdistan Region.
Globally, Denmark, Finland, and Singapore topped the 2024 CPI rankings, with South Sudan ranked at the bottom, reflecting its high levels of perceived corruption.
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