Corruption Fight Must Prioritize Human Dignity: AUC Chairperson

The Chair of the African Union Commission (AUC) says corruption undermines trust in institutions and constitutes an assault on dignity in a statement marking the 2025 African Anti-Corruption Day.

In an address delivered on July 11, 2025, under the theme ‘Promoting Human Dignity in the Fight Against Corruption’, the Chairperson highlighted corruption’s role in perpetuating inequality and urged all African Union member states to integrate the protection of human dignity into their anti-corruption strategies.

“Corruption undermines trust in our institutions, diverts resources meant for development, and perpetuates inequality and poverty,” reads the statement from Mahmoud Youssouf, a veteran diplomat from Djibouti who took over the chairmanship from Chad’s Moussa Faki earlier this year.

“Just as the continent seeks to address historical injustices through reparations, it must equally dismantle contemporary corrupt systems that perpetuate indignity and injustice,” reads the statement.

As the 2025 African Anti-Corruption Day theme seeks to sensitize Africans to shape their shared future with dignity, the Chairperson reiterated that the AU has prioritized the fight against corruption as a cornerstone of its Agenda 2063.

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He stressed that the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC), adopted 22 years ago, remains the guiding framework for these efforts.

The Chairperson also urged member states to continue aligning national legislation and strategies with the AUCPCC’s principles, highlighting that anti-corruption efforts contribute directly to the well-being and rights of individuals.

According to him, the approach intends to ensure anti-corruption initiatives and protection of human dignity directly.

Youssouf called for the immediate implementation of measures that integrate a human rights perspective into both prevention and enforcement policies. He also called for unity to dismantle corruption’s structures and build a continent where human dignity is protected and celebrated.