Egypt is set to host the African Anti-Corruption Forum (AACF) on 12-13 June in Sharm El-Sheikh.
The main objective of the AACF is to encourage African countries to adopt policies, programmes and work plans that contribute to the eradication of corruption and to establish a knowledge linkage base between different regions of the continent on the risks of corruption and its severe negative effect on development.
The AACF aims at providing a platform for African countries to meet on a regular basis to exchange information, experiences and best practices for the purpose of consolidating their national capabilities and institutions in the fight against corruption.
The forum will address several topics including the continental and national efforts conducted by African countries in accordance with their international and regional commitments, the relationship between corruption and development, capacity building and human resources, the role of civil society and the private sector, and how to enhance African inter-governmental coordination in combating corruption.
The AACF will witness the participation of ministers of justice and interior as well as the chairpersons of anti-corruption authorities, auditing institutions and illicit gains authorities. Over 200 senior officials from regional and international institutions will also participate.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Kuwait will be guests of honour in the AACF.
Corruption, according to the AACF website, represents a major challenge for African nations and their aspiration for development and prosperity.
The huge and diverse resources of the African continent are degraded by the negative effect of corruption, with several nations still suffering from illicit financial inflows.
Corruption undermines the enormous efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals of the African Agenda 2063, the website said.
The African Union Convention on Prevention and Combating Corruption is considered the fundamental legal framework for combating corruption in Africa.
The convention came into force in 2006 after being ratified by 15 African countries. In January 2017, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi signed the convention and it was subsequently ratified by Egypt in July 2017.
Egypt was unanimously elected the 2019 chair of the African Union (AU).
The AU dubbed 2018 the African anti-corruption year. The AU Summit of January 2018 was held under the theme Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa s Transformation.
Egypt will host the fourth annual general meeting of the Africa Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities on 14-15 June 2019.
