Angola to get support from UN to combat against corruption, all social evils

The United Nations has pledged to continue to support Angola in the fight against corruption and all the social evils that hamper the people’s wellbeing. The pledge came from its representative in the country, Paolo Balladelli, who would not specify how such a support will be provided.

Paolo Balladelli described the corruption, a deadly cancer that invades entities, societies and nullifies the potential for development of a country and its population. He stressed that corruption is a complex challenge that persists in many countries of the world.

The UN official put at USD 2.5 trillion the size of the illicit resources in the world, each year. He said that of this amount USD 1.5 trillion is related to bribery and another trillion for the loss of capital in developing countries. The UN representative in Angola was speaking on international experience in combat corruption and money laundering at the opening of the society's moralising campaign sponsored by the ruling MPLA party.

According to him, it is estimated that the flow of illicit capital is ten times higher than the current amount for developing countries' aid in the world. "If we add up these losses by the year 2030, the total is much higher than the ten trillion needed to eradicate poverty in the world," the diplomat said. To him, corruption takes vital resources away from schools, hospitals, protection as well as deprives citizens of their rights and undo foreign investment opportunities.

The UN official also spoke of the negative impact of corruption on justice sector, saying that the public officials may also get involved in the perverse process and close their eyes to solving the problems that hamper the sustainable development of the population." The country has 463 prosecutors, a number considered inadequate to meet the demand of a population estimated at 26 million inhabitants.

With inputs from agencies.

Also Read: Angola, South Korea join hand to work on investment protection agreement