This book investigates public corruption in Africa and the attempts to curb it, moving from histories and legacies through to the challenging conditions in which anti-corruption agencies operate today.

Contributors include leading scholars, as well as policymakers and civil society practitioners and workers in anti-corruption agencies, in order to build a picture which is both evidence-based and grounded in real world experience. Taking case studies from across the continent, the book seeks to build an integrated picture of the issue. Key themes include the challenges posed by public theft and fraud, the urgent need for transparency and accountability in public figures, and the work of anti-corruption agencies in developing measures and laws to combat and prevent corruption.

At a time when corruption in many parts of the continent remains rife despite most countries having ratified the UN convention on preventing and combatting corruption, this book will be an important guide for researchers across the fields of African Studies, Political Science, and Global Development.