"Ending corruption is the key to ending poverty in Africa. Will President Obama push it at this week’s summit?" 5 August 2014

Corruption in the natural resource sector is disastrous for Africa’s development. In 2012, the continent’s oil and mineral exports were worth $305 billion – almost seven times the amount it received in international aid. Yet lack of accountability in oil, gas and mining deals means much of Africa’s population remains desperately poor, while political elites and international companies make a killing...Many African countries are signed up to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) standard. Under the EITI’s new rules, countries are encouraged to publish natural resource contracts and the real owners of companies who win natural resource contracts.  All EITI countries should follow those African countries that are doing this.  And they should allow civil society the space and safety to make sure citizens can scrutinize and critique resource deals without fear of reprisal. Across the world, momentum is building to lift the veil of secrecy over money that could transform education, healthcare, judicial and other critical systems in developing countries. The U.S. has played a key role in making some of this happen – but its companies have also provided some of the best-funded and most well-connected resistance.