Here is the rewritten article in Markdown format:

Congo, Democratic Republic of: Anti-Bribery Laws and Regulations in Effect But Struggles Remain

Despite efforts to combat corruption and bribery, Congo, Democratic Republic of (DRC) continues to struggle with endemic graft. The country’s constitution includes laws aimed at fighting corruption by all citizens, including public officials, but their application is rare and often politically motivated.

Anti-Corruption Efforts

The DRC encourages private companies to establish internal codes of conduct and prohibit bribery, and they have historically been more likely to develop and implement anti-corruption controls than state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and parastatals. The country hosted the Southern African Commission against Corruption in 2015 to discuss strategies for combating corruption.

Creation of an Anti-Corruption Office

In a bid to tackle corruption, DRC President authorized the creation of an anti-corruption office in 2015, appointing a “corruption czar” to reduce governmental malfeasance. However, the new office is reportedly under-financed and has not been effective in addressing corruption, with reports on alleged corrupt politicians and embezzlement of public funds remaining unpublished.

Corruption Perception Index

The DRC’s ranking of 156 out of 177 countries on Transparency International’s 2016 Corruption Perception Index highlighted the lack of progress in fighting corruption. American firms cite corruption as one of the main hurdles to investment in the country.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Anti-Corruption Efforts

While several NGOs contribute to anti-corruption efforts, their reports are frequently ignored by the government when implicating officials. The DRC is a signatory to the UN Anticorruption Convention but not the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery.

Cellule Technique de Lutte contre l’Impunité (CTLI)

The agency responsible for fighting corruption in the DRC is the CTLI, led by Coordinator Nkulu Mbayo Marie-Claude. The government has drafted a bill to fight corruption, but it remains unclear when or if it will be implemented.

Experts’ Views

Experts say that more needs to be done to effectively combat corruption in the DRC, which continues to rank low on international anti-corruption indices.

Conclusion

While efforts have been made to combat corruption and bribery, the DRC still struggles with endemic graft. To make progress, the government must prioritize effective implementation of anti-corruption laws and regulations, as well as increase transparency and accountability in public sector activities.