Lebanese protest in Tripoli against the corruption of political leaders
Mena: a region of backhanders
A new book identifies corruption as a major factor holding back Middle East and North Africa (Mena) development —not least in oil-exporting states
Slogans analogous to those heard on the streets of Cairo and other Arab cities during the popular uprisings that began in 2011 are ringing out today in Baghdad, Beirut, Algiers, Tehran and many other Mena population centres. There may be country-specific differences in protesters’ demands, but there are undeniably strong common themes. One is the call for a rooting out of corruption. The scale of the region’s problem is clear. Anti-corruption advocate Transparency International lists six Mena states (Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Southern Sudan and Syria) among the 12 least transparent in the world. Eight more occupy places firmly in the bottom half of the 183-nation table: Morocco, Tunisia, K
Also in this section
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations
28 April 2026
Restoring supply from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq involves complexities far beyond simply adjusting operational controls
28 April 2026
Datacentres will guzzle power at a ferocious rate, but the impact on wider energy markets will be far more complex than previously thought
28 April 2026
The key energy player faces balancing regional routes, political complexities, and creating a clear strategic vision for energy security
