The African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development welcomes the formal opening of the Eleventh Session of the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP11) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in Doha, State of Qatar, where the Center is participating on the ground.
The opening plenary brought together States Parties, international organizations, and civil society actors to reaffirm global resolve to address corruption and its far-reaching impacts. The African Center commends the State of Qatar for hosting CoSP11 and congratulates the President of the Conference, Hamad bin Nasser Al-Misnad, as well as the Qatar High-Level Representative, H.E. Abdulaziz bin Nasser Mubarak Al Misnad, for providing an inclusive platform for dialogue and cooperation. We also acknowledge the leadership of the outgoing President of the Conference, Ms. Christine Cline (United States), and her role in guiding CoSP10 in Atlanta in 2023.
In a video message to the plenary, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres described corruption as a global challenge with direct human consequences, including weakened institutions, stalled development, and declining public trust. He reaffirmed UNCAC as the foundation of international anti-corruption efforts and called for stronger transparency, accountability, and innovation, alongside deeper collaboration with civil society. He further noted that corruption fuels inequality, conflict, and environmental harm, and highlighted the dual role of emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence—which can both enable corruption and strengthen detection and prevention when supported by effective regulation and accountability.
Discussions during the opening session reaffirmed UNCAC’s status as the only legally binding global anti-corruption instrument and stressed the need to accelerate its full and effective implementation. Speakers highlighted corruption as a major obstacle to sustainable development, social justice, peace, and security, particularly in developing regions, and emphasized the importance of political commitment, international cooperation, and practical, results-driven action.
A central focus of the opening plenary was asset recovery, recognized as both a legal responsibility and a means of restoring stolen resources to support development and public welfare. Calls for stronger cross-border cooperation, improved transparency, beneficial ownership disclosure, and the removal of procedural barriers align closely with the African Center’s mandate and ongoing work across Africa.
The session also highlighted the role of civil society, youth, women, the private sector, and the media in preventing corruption and promoting accountability. This recognition reinforces the need to protect civic space and ensure meaningful participation of non-state actors in anti-corruption processes.
Emerging priorities discussed at the plenary included digital governance, financial transparency, integrity in public procurement, and efforts to curb illicit financial flows—areas that reflect the African Center’s focus on governance reform, asset recovery, and sustainable development.
As CoSP11 deliberations continue, the African Center calls on African States Parties and international partners to translate commitments into concrete actions, strengthened cooperation, and measurable outcomes, particularly in advancing asset recovery, institutional integrity, and development objectives.
The African Center remains engaged in Doha and committed to supporting UNCAC implementation across Africa through research, capacity building, policy engagement, and strategic partnerships, and looks forward to outcomes from CoSP11 that strengthen accountability and deliver lasting public value.
