Corruption in Afghanistan threatens international aids

European Union Special Envoy for Afghanistan has expressed concern over high levels of corruption in Afghanistan; citing the Afghan government must takes serious measures to fight against these challenges.

“The high level of corruption in Afghanistan threatens international aids to the country, and it becomes a concerning issue for the European Union. We are here to help Afghan people and we will continue our assistances till the year 2020,” said Franz-Michael Mellbin, EU special representative for Afghanistan.

Corruption in Afghanistan, which reaches up to deputy-minister level in an administration permeated by mafia-like structures, poses a danger to the nation’s efforts at stability and security and the international aids to the country.

It was also spreading across the country which this year ranks as the third-most corrupt in the world.

Afghanistan was rated in Band E, one of the highest risk categories on a scale of A (very low risk of corruption) to F (critical risk of corruption) within its defence and security sector.

Most defense spending lacks any transparency because it is provided by the international community off-budget, while the Ministry of Defense fails to provide Parliament with detailed accounts of its defense budget expenditure. This makes proper oversight by Parliament or civil society a tremendous challenge.

In the meantime, a number of analysts are said to consider having a proper solution by the National Unity Government in the only way to fight against corruption.

Afghanistan’s partners provide nearly all funding and equipment encourages to incentivize reforms, provide political support and funding to oversight bodies, and encourage the development of accountability systems but the country still failed to come out of this crisis.