Right to development and illicit financial flows from Africa : dynamics, perspectives, and prospects

Gerard Emmanuel Kamdem Kamga, Serges Djoyou Kamga, and Arnold Kwesiga explore a relatively new phenomenon, namely referred to as illicit financial flows, that aim to impoverish the African continent and prevent its economic development.

There is a direct relationship between illicit financial flows and failed initiatives to realize the right to development on the continent.

For instance, in 2016, Africa received $41 billion towards public development while $50 billion left the continent through illicit financial flows.

The gap between recent economic achievements on the continent and its state of generalized underdevelopment coupled with rampant poverty, corruption, prolonged economic crisis, and political instabilities signals an issue with resource allocations.

The systematic theft of resources by multinational corporations and criminal networks is a hard blow to the idea of people-driven development in line with the Pan African vision of “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa” proclaimed by Agenda 2063.

Right to Development and Illicit Financial Flows from Africa: Dynamics, Perspectives, and Prospects provides insights into the dynamics and perspectives on illicit financial flows and its dire impacts on the right to development and development initiatives across the continent.