Experts call for enforcement of anti-corruption laws in Algeria
2008-09-26
Following the release of Transparency International's latest global rankings – in which Algeria placed 92nd out of 180 – financial experts say existing anti-corruption legislation must be enforced for progress to be made.
By Said Jameh for Magharebia in Algiers – 26/09/08
 [transparency.org] Algeria's ranking on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index remained lower than its Maghreb neighbours, prompting calls for the implementation of anti-corruption laws. |
In its most recent rankings, Transparency International classifies Algeria as one of the more corrupt countries of the world, despite a modest move upward of seven places to 92nd out of 180. Financial and economic experts in Algeria say the low classification is a product of growing parallel trade, weak independent oversight and a failure to apply and enforce the law.
Despite its symbolic progress, Algeria remains behind Maghreb neighbours Tunisia (62nd place) and Morocco (80th place).
Djillali Hadjadj, President of the Algerian Anti-Bribery Association (the local chapter of Transparency International), said that the catastrophic social and economic conditions prevailing in Algeria in recent years "have helped in the spread of both the large and small aspects of bribery", which he called "a government tool to maintain power".
Hadjadj said the return of an "oppressive and shameless police state" is one of the main reasons Algeria suffers from high levels of corruption.
The transparency advocate also pointed to a lack of protection for citizens who report cases of corruption and bribery. "They are subjected to pressures from the authorities, administration or security forces," he said.
In the statement, Hadjadj expressed his doubts over the government's intentions to combat corruption, saying "All the initiatives taken in the anti-corruption field were just settling of scores between the competing groups within the regime."
In its business dealings, Algeria rarely trades with Transparency International's highest-rated countries, working instead with China, Russia and France on development projects in sectors like housing, railways and dams.
The Algerian economy suffered a hit in 2003 with the collapse of the Khalifa Bank, operated by notorious failed businessman Abdelmoumen Khalifa. Khalifa is currently in prison in the United Kingdom, but Algeria has applied for him to be extradited for trial in his home country. His alleged misconduct caused damages to the national economy estimated at 100 billion Algerian dinars.
The case was billed 'the scandal of the century' because of the involvement of several official entities in it.
The government has acknowledged the misuse of public funds, especially in view of Algeria's rising oil revenues. In the first two months of this year, this revenue amounted to $41.7 billion. Bank of Algeria Governor Mohamed Laksaci said that foreign exchange reserves amounted to $133 billion.
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika reportedly instructed Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia to increase oversight and to take necessary action against ministers and other public officials involved in squandering public money.
Ouyahia then issued directives to the Inspector-General of Finance to monitor how public money earmarked for charity – estimated in the billions of dinars – is spent.
Magharebia interviewed Mohamed Khodja, Member of Parliament and former rapporteur for the Senate's financial affairs committee, about the extent of corruption in Algeria. He said the new points scored in Transparency International's rankings should be an incentive to remove corruption from all financial and economic practices.
He attributed the spread of the phenomenon to the security crisis Algeria suffered in the 1990s. He called on the government to be stricter in the application of laws against bribery, especially given the launch of big-budget development projects in the country.
Khodja said politicians and civil society play an important part in combating problems of corruption, particularly in these large-scale public investments.
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ellye Posted 2008-09-26
Morocco is also a corrupt country.
Linda Chergui Posted 2008-09-27
There are only crooked people in our administration, the courts, the police, the gendarmerie and, most notably, the customs authority. Their number has dramatically increased since 1999 with the coming of the Oujda clan to the “business world”. If they were any more corrupt, you would die. Three years later, Algeria won laurels from the NGO Transparency International for having the most corrupt government in the field. According to this NGO, all of our markets that have come about in 1999 in all sectors—both public and private, both insignificant and important—were established under the empire of corruption. Shame on you! –Linda Chergui
mohammed Posted 2008-09-28
These are the main causes which encourage Morocco to insist on opening borders with Algeria. All Algerians know these facts, which are really sad. Sometimes people concerned about their country feel frustrated. What can His Excellency the president of republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika do with some unscrupulous officials? But who taught witchcraft to Algerian officials? It is the protectors of criminals… there, on the other side of the sea. I am Algerian and I know Algeria pretty well. How are big deals concluded with major companies in the sectors of hydrocarbons, mines, building and so on? The countries which boast of fighting corruption encourage it. Algerians are learned people and analyse issues. The story of the young man Abdelmoumen Khalifa is just one of the lost and unknown chains. Wherever public money is present, plundering exists. This is a rule. The Algerian treasury is filled up. It is quite natural that some plunderers surround it. Therefore, there is corruption. There are no public monies in Morocco. The treasury is empty. It is quite natural that their plunderers have gone away to other sides and are active in other sectors. But this doesn’t mean in any way that Morocco is less corrupt than Algeria. The issue is relative in Algeria. A lot of funds come in and out. Therefore, there are many wolves. In Morocco, little money comes in and out. Therefore, their wolves are active in other sectors. The report is respected. But who encourages Algerians to that? I read newspapers, follow events and scandals of finance and business, oh you who protect Abdelmoumen Khalifa. But I am shocked. If Abdelmoumen Khalifa had accepted to buy aircrafts from France and followed its plans, we would have been ignoring reality to this day. If he hadn’t dropped the deal, the issue would have been secret to this day. Where are the principles? Where are the values especially concerning transactions between states? This is very sad.
vescera Posted 2008-10-09
Who could afford themselves to pass such a precise verdict a subject so delicate as this? The way things are done is what differs from country to country, but corruption is far more present in the country of the higher echelons, that is: the rich and industrialised countries. They allow themselves to pass such verdicts, turning a blind eye to themselves. Take a look at what is going on over there; we do not need Algeria to be judged by foreigners who are corrupt to the bone and who are doing this just to destabilise the country’s politics.
bensmail azek Posted 2008-12-12
A bank manager is an employee, so how can he build a home that costs three to four billion?
I am very happy that there is a World Organization for the transparency of the state. I hope that there will be soon in Algeria an investigation in the causes of poverty, corruption and unemployment. I am like other Algerians students who suffered and are still suffering of marginalization. By the way, I have two university diplomas which were approved in France but the only hurdle is administrative problems and not receiving the visa. As an Algerian intellectual citizen, I denounce the acts of senior officials, encouraging bribery, concluding suspicious deals in the sea…Help us like human beings. We have the right to live. I am 40. I haven’t built my future. The Algerian state kills citizens with poverty. This situation pushes young people to become rebellious. So it is easy to kill them. So you can imagine how things happen in our country. I would like to send you videos but I don’t know how. In this way you would see real poverty. No one tells you that Algerians do not live a nice life, but there are others who say nothing because they have their dignity. Write to me to my above email. Thank you to keep it secret…Concerning sending away Moroccans in 1974, I don’t agree with this. Like every young man and woman, they have the right to recover their properties even if they were opposing the Algerian law because they are Algerians. They have the right to live. They also have obligations. Peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you. Sorry for some mistakes. Signed in Algeria on 16/12/2008.
mohammed Posted 2008-12-23
Algeria is being plundered under the patronage of his Excellency the president of the republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika and his group. Bouteflika benefited from the mediation of Hassan II to Chirac, may God bless him. Yes Jacques Chirac so that the latter makes pressure on secularists to support him in 1999. This is exactly what happened. Oh Algerians, Bouteflika exposes our country to plundering. If Bouteflika has an atom of nationalism, he should find where has gone the money allocated for poor people who need housing in rural areas and for the restoration of houses? Bouteflika who was exiled for six months to New York during the era of Boumediene has come back to retaliate against the Algerian people..?!
فتني سفيان Posted 2009-03-29
From the newspaper “El Watan”, 9 March 2009. “The Algerian Forum for the Fight Against Corruption” – The department of Ghlamallah criticised the Algerian Forum for the Fight Against Corruption, which made public the results of a survey it did on corruption in Algeria. The results were quite revealing of the prevailing situation in the country. As such, according to the NGO, most Algerians expect a significant increase in corruption in the years to come not only in the public sector but also in the private. The survey showed that 70% of the people questioned said that corruption is a gangrene to state institutions and 30% said that the opinion leaders confirmed that there was an increase in corruption in the last five years. Moreover, 35% of these leaders explained the phenomenon by the weakness of the judges. Furthermore, three quarters of the people questioned said that they were not aware of the cases the courts were dealing with and were not convinced of the government’s effectiveness in its efforts to fight corruption. The same percentage accused senior officials and politicians for being responsible for this scourge, the cited causes of which were, according to the survey, the dealings of senior officials, the weakness of judges, the non-enforcement of court rulings (especially in the public sector), favouritism, clientelism , the abuse of trust, the squandering of public funds and forgery. When asked about the potential to fight corruption, the opinion leaders...
Frank Posted 2009-07-10
Corruption everywhere in the World. All our actual world corrupt and need to be change.
Nottinghami Posted 2009-08-19
I am an Algerian myself and proud to be so, however I m very disappointed to know that there are people needless to mention who are distroying Algeria, these people are the people in higher positions they dont deserve the allocated posts, injustice has become a norme, the Algeriens have accepted what their governor are doing and it is the law of the jungle! Miitary officials are raping girls aged 15, Bouteflika came with a vengence and the fruits are showing. This is a catch 22 situation algeriens have learned the hard way of the 90 aqnd they are reluctant to speak or act in case the country falls back to its nightmare. A simple example when an attache militaire in the UK abuses of his power by depriving the son s of Algeria from going to their country and all the consulat and ambassy staff are aware, i just qualify this as the dark ages. Algeria needs a miracle and I do feel sorry for the youths over there to risk their lives in the sea to escape injustice. Enough said
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