International Anti-Corruption Commitments

Title of the document

African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance

Issuing body

African Union

Brief description

The Charter was adopted on 30 January 2007 as the African Union’s main normative instrument to set standards for better governance across the continent. It came into force in February 2012 after ratification by fifteen (15) States.

Relevant excerpts

We, the Member States of the African Union (AU);

Committed to promote the universal values and principles of democracy, good governance, human rights and the right to development;

Seeking to entrench in the Continent a political culture of change of power based on the holding of regular, free, fair and transparent elections conducted by competent, independent and impartial national electoral bodies;

Article 27: In order to advance political, economic and social governance, State Parties shall commit themselves to:

1. Strengthening the capacity of parliaments and legally recognised political parties to perform their core functions;

2. Fostering popular participation and partnership with civil society organizations;

4. Improving public sector management;

5. Improving efficiency and effectiveness of public services and combating corruption

Article 33: State Parties shall institutionalize good economic and corporate governance through, inter alia:

1. Effective and efficient public sector management;

2. Promoting transparency in public finance management;

3. Preventing and combating corruption and related offences;