The AU activities on the anti-corruption track are primarily focused on the implementation of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, which was adopted in 2003 and entered into force in 2006. At present, the Convention has been ratified by 48 AU members.
The Convention provides for criminalization of a number of offences, including bribery (of national and foreign officials), misappropriation of property, trading in influence, illicit enrichment, money laundering and concealment of property, and contains provisions concerning prevention of corruption crimes, regional cooperation, provision of mutual legal assistance and recovery of proceeds of crimes.
In order to provide assistance to the States parties in implementing the provisions of the Convention and adopting measures to prevent and counter corruption, as well as to exercise the technical monitoring of the implementation of the Convention by States parties in line with article 22 (1) of the Convention, the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption was established. It consists of 11 members elected by the Executive Council: 10 places in it are occupied by two representatives from each African region (Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern and Central), and one place is held by a representative of a region who is replaced every two years.
The Advisory Board organises an event entitled “African Anti-Corruption Dialogue” for the AU members on an annual basis.
