Afghanistan’s Anti-Corruption Efforts Fall Short
Kabal, Afghanistan - Struggling to Make a Lasting Impact
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) task force, Shafafiyat, was established to investigate corruption surrounding its contracting. However, despite its efforts, the task force has struggled to make a significant impact due to political complexities and a lack of focus on corruption and governance.
The National Unity Government’s Failure to Deliver
The creation of the National Unity Government (NUG) after the 2014 presidential election was seen as an opportunity to tackle criminality that delegitimizes the post-2001 political dispensation. However, despite promises to improve governance and reduce corruption, the NUG has failed to deliver robustly on these commitments.
- President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah’s deep ties to corrupt elites have hindered anti-corruption efforts.
- Not a single notorious powerbroker has been legally prosecuted or marginalized in the two and a half years since the NUG was formed.
Insufficient Anti-Corruption Measures
The government’s anti-crime and anti-corruption measures have been insufficient. The reopening of the Kabul bank case did not result in asset recovery, while the suspension and clean-up of a $1 billion fuel contract for the Afghan Ministry of Defense was a success but has yet to translate into broader anti-corruption efforts.
Ethnic Divisions and Rival Patronage Networks
The complex web of ethnic divisions and rival patronage networks within the Afghan security forces continues to complicate anti-corruption efforts. The establishment of an anti-corruption court in 2016, the Anti-Corruption Justice Center (ACJC), has yielded some successes, including tax and custom revenue recovery.
Missed Opportunities
The Taliban’s takeover of Kunduz in October 2015 presented another opportunity for the government to reverse predatory criminality and corruption. Despite being shaken by the development, Ghani and Abdullah failed to act against corruption within the Afghan National Security Forces.
Fractious Politics
The country’s politics remain fractious, self-interested, and engaged in constant brinksmanship at the expense of the national interest. In light of these missed opportunities, experts recommend a set of policy measures to address corruption and improve governance in Afghanistan.
- Prioritize anti-corruption efforts
- Target the most dangerous forms of corruption
- Rein in warlords and predatory criminality
- Continue to properly sequence counternarcotics efforts
- Maintain a suspension of drug eradication
The Future of Afghanistan Hangs in the Balance
The future of Afghanistan hangs in the balance as the country struggles to overcome corruption and improve governance. Will the government seize this opportunity to make meaningful progress or will it continue to falter? Only time will tell.