By Ebi Kesiena
As the African Union commemorates the 2025 African Anti-Corruption Day, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has called on member states to integrate the protection of human dignity at the heart of their anti-corruption efforts.
This year’s observance, held annually on July 11, is themed “Promoting Human Dignity in the Fight Against Corruption”, and aligns with the AU’s overarching theme for 2025: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.”
In a statement marking the occasion, the Chairperson emphasised that corruption is not merely a financial or governance issue, but a direct assault on the dignity and security of African citizens. He noted that corruption deprives individuals, especially women, youth, and vulnerable populations, of their fundamental rights and opportunities to thrive, while stripping nations of their development potential.
“Corruption undermines trust in our institutions, diverts resources meant for public good, and perpetuates inequality and poverty,” Youssouf stated, adding that it often leads to grave consequences such as preventable maternal deaths and the collapse of educational access for children.
The Chairperson drew a connection between the fight against corruption and the continent’s broader call for reparative justice. Just as Africa seeks to address historical wrongs, he said, there is a need to dismantle present-day systems that sustain injustice and indignity.
He reiterated the African Union’s commitment to rooting out corruption through its Agenda 2063 blueprint, which envisions a continent governed by principles of integrity, transparency, and accountability. Central to this vision is the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC), adopted in 2003, which he described as the foundation for national anti-graft strategies.
Youssouf urged African states to intensify their efforts to align local legislation with the AUCPCC, especially Article 2(4), which requires state parties to eliminate barriers to the enjoyment of economic, social, cultural, civil, and political rights.
Calling for urgent, collective action, the AU Chairperson pressed for anti-corruption frameworks that adopt a human rights approach, stressing the need to build a continent where dignity is not only defended but uplifted.
