It is not a secret that Africa is one of the most impoverished, if not the most impoverished continent in the world.  First-world nations continue to flood African governments with financial aid, and various private corporations, NGOs (See the intro to humanitarian aid for more info), and even international coalitions provide medical support, financial support, and basic needs to impoverished countries across the continent.   However, many may not know that Africa also faces an ever increasing amount of corruption in the government.  From 1970 to 2009 at least $1.8 trillion flowed out of Africa. (Adow ) "A study commissioned by the Tana High Level Forum on African Security, which organised the conference, found that illicit flows from Africa grew at an average rate of 12.1 percent per year since 1970, and that capital flight from West and Central African countries accounted for most of the illicit flows from sub-Saharan Africa." (Adow)  If the world hopes for any sustainable economy and social order in Africa, the world needs to work to eliminate any and all financial corruption that siphons of the much needed aid from the region.  However, there is still hope that African nations will work to end this behavior as African leaders convened in Bahar Dar, Ethiopia to discuss illicit financial corruption and various measures that can be taken to prevent this corruption from taking place.   The astounding figures mentioned earlier do not even include the money lost from illicit drug and fish trafficking. In Somalia, the government loses between $800 million and $1 billion from illegal fishing very year. (Adow)  The immense financial corruption in African nations is the main reason why international efforts to boost the economy and economic development through donors has not made a significant, lasting impact in Africa. "As long as illicit capital continues to pour out of impoverished African countries at this pace, efforts to reduce poverty and boost economic growth will be thwarted, and income distribution will become more skewed, leading to economic and political instability." (Adow)



Click the Link below for access to the article discussed in this post
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&Auth,ip,custuid&custid=infohio&db=nfh&AN=2W62827764462&site=eds-live