Watchdog: U.S. contributed to growth of corruption in Afghanistan
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 15 September 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Watchdog: U.S. contributed to growth of corruption in Afghanistan, 15 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58189d9aa.html [accessed 7 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 15, 2016
The U.S. government's top watchdog on Afghanistan says the United States has contributed to the growth of corruption in the war-torn country and was slow to recognize the magnitude of the problem.
In a report released on September 14, the Special Inspector-General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said "corruption undermined the U.S. mission in Afghanistan by fueling grievances and channeling support to the insurgency."
"In Afghanistan today, corruption remains an enormous challenge to security, political stability, and development," SIGAR said.
SIGAR also said U.S. military and political aims "consistently trumped" the fight against corruption in Afghanistan.
It also added that anticorruption efforts "lacked sustained political commitment and saw limited success."
Afghanistan is one of the most corrupt counties in the world.
Afghanistan was at No. 166 in Transparency International's 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index, an annual ranking of countries.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
