The most corrupt countries in the world, ranked in order

Transparency International has released its annual Corruption Perceptions Index, which ranks 175 countries on their levels of public sector corruption.

A statement released with the report indicated that a low score “is likely a sign of widespread bribery, lack of punishment for corruption and public institutions that don’t respond to citizens’ needs”.

It is pointed out that while no countries score 0 (highly corrupt), there are also none scoring a perfect 100 (very clean).

Bribes and backroom deals don’t just steal resources from the most vulnerable – they undermine justice and economic development, and destroy public trust in government and leaders.

Transparency International

Britain scores 78 which takes it up to 14 on the list and overall the country has seen a steady improvement over the past two years (2012: 74, 2013: 76).

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Kenya bombs Somalia al-Shabab bases after Garissa attack

Kenyan fighter jets have bombed positions of militant Islamist group al-Shabab in neighbouring Somalia, a military spokesman has told the BBC.

The warplanes had targeted two camps in the Gedo region, used by al-Shabab to cross into Kenya, the spokesman added.

This is Kenya's first response to the al-Shabab assault which left 148 people dead at Garissa University last week.

President Uhuru Kenyatta had vowed to respond to the attack "in the severest way possible".
Kenyan army spokesman David Obonyo told the BBC that the military had responded to "threats" by launching the air strikes on Sunday night in the remote region.

Two camps had been destroyed, he said, adding: "The bombings are part of the continued process and engagement against al-Shabab, which will go on."

But an eyewitness, speaking to BBC Somali, said the attack had wounded three civilians, and destroyed livestock and wells in an area without an al-Shabab presence.

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Lead prosecutor in al-Shabaab bombing trial shot dead in Uganda

Uganda’s lead prosecutor in the ongoing trial of 13 men accused of participating in 2010 al-Shabaab bombings that killed 76 people was shot dead Monday, police said.

Joan Kagezi, acting assistant director of public prosecution, was murdered by men on a motorbike as she drove home in a suburb of the capital, Kampala police spokesman Patrick Onyango said. “They were trailing her on a motorcycle ... They shot her dead.”

Her current cases included the trial of men allegedly linked to July 2010 suicide bombings targeting football fans watching the World Cup final at a restaurant and a rugby club in Kampala. Somalia’s al-Qaida-affiliated Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for the attack, the group’s first outside Somalia.

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'Boko Haram' kills dozens in raid on Nigerian village - BBC News

Suspected Boko Haram militants have killed at least 45 people in a village in Borno state, north-east Nigeria, witnesses have said.

The gunmen who stormed Njaba targeted men and boys before setting the village on fire, survivors added.

The raid happened early on Tuesday but was not reported immediately because of the remoteness of the area.

Boko Haram has killed thousands of people in its drive to establish an Islamic state.

Many survivors of the attack on Njaba fled to the nearby town of Damboa.

A resident of the town told the BBC the dead had been left to decompose because the villagers feared returning to Njaba.

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Kenyan officials charged over Anglo Leasing scandal -BBC News

Seven ex-government officials in Kenya have been charged in connection with a multimillion-dollar corruption scam.

The accused, including an ex-finance minister, all denied charges of abuse of office and conspiracy to commit economic crimes and were freed on bail.

The Anglo Leasing affair, which involved contracts being awarded to phantom firms, shocked Kenyans when it was revealed in 2004.

A previous legal case fell apart in 2005 because of a lack of evidence.

Anglo Leasing Finance was paid about 30m euros ($33m; £21m) to supply the Kenyan government with a system to print new high-technology passports; other fictitious companies involved in the scam were given money to supply naval ships and forensic laboratories.

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Ebola: Liberia's Johnson Sirleaf urges 'Marshall Plan' - BBC News

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has called for a "Marshall Plan" for the Ebola-affected countries of West Africa.

She was referring to the massive US aid programme for Europe launched after World War Two.

Her comments came after Sierra Leone was immediately granted more than $80m (£52m) to help end the Ebola outbreak and recover from its effects.

The IMF has pledged a $187m financial aid package for Sierra Leone.

Nearly $5bn has been pledged internationally to the Ebola effort, but less than half of the help has materialised.

About 600 delegates from around the world met in Brussels on Tuesday to talk about Ebola and long-term plans to fight the disease.

Nearly 10,000 people have died in the outbreak, the vast majority in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

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South African firefighters battle blaze on Cape Town mountains -BBC News

More than 100 South African firefighters are battling wildfires on the mountains around Cape Town.

Thousands of hectares of vegetation have been reduced to ashes on Chapman's Peak, while several homes and a holiday lodge have been destroyed.

More than 50 people - residents of a retirement home - have been treated for smoke inhalation, officials say.

The fire started on Sunday and was fanned by strong winds, causing it to spread rapidly.

Roads in the area have been closed because of poor visibility.

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Lesotho votes in poll aimed at easing political crisis - BBC News

Polling has ended and counting is under way in Lesotho, in a snap election aimed at resolving political tensions after an attempted coup last year.

Polling was said to have passed off peacefully.

Last year, PM Thomas Thabane suspended parliament to avoid a motion ousting him as the head of the coalition.

He later fled, saying he was the target of a coup attempt, after the military - known to have links to the opposition - attacked the police headquarters.

He soon returned escorted by South African police and has been contesting the election.

Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa, which played a key mediating role .

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Rwanda urged to take criminal action over BBC genocide film - BBC News

An inquiry in Rwanda has recommended that the government initiate criminal and civil proceedings against the BBC over a documentary which questioned official accounts of the 1994 genocide.

Inquiry head Martin Ngoga found that the documentary failed to meet the BBC's own editorial standards.

The BBC says it is "extremely disappointed" by the findings.

Rwanda suspended broadcasts by the BBC's Kinyarwanda language service after the TV documentary was aired.

"We stand by our right to produce the independent journalism which has made us the world's most trusted news source," the BBC said in a statement.

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Ebola outbreak: Sierra Leone vice-president quarantined - BBC News

The vice-president of Sierra Leone has put himself into quarantine after one of his bodyguards died from Ebola.

Samuel Sam-Sumana said he would stay out of contact with others for 21 days as a precaution.

There was optimism the virus was on the decline in Sierra Leone at the end of last year but there has been a recent increase in confirmed cases.

Nearly 10,000 people have died in the outbreak, the vast majority in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

'Taking no chances'
Mr Sam-Sumana said on Saturday that he had chosen to be quarantined to "lead by example" after the death of his bodyguard, John Koroma, last week.

He told Reuters news agency that he was "very well" and showing no signs of the illness, but said he did not want to "take chances".

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Rwanda singer Kizito Mihigo planned to kill Paul Kagame - BBC News

A popular Rwandan singer has been jailed for 10 years after being convicted of planning to kill President Kagame and inciting hatred against the government.

Kizito Mihigo had earlier said he was guilty and asked for forgiveness, meaning his sentence was reduced.

His co-accused, Cassien Ntamuhanga, the director of a Christian radio station, was jailed for 25 years for terrorism and incitement.

He had continued to deny all charges.

Mihigo had admitted exchanging text messages with a South Africa-based opposition group, the Rwanda National Congress (RNC).

He was cleared of terrorism while Ntamuhanga was acquitted of plotting to assassinate President Kagame.

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Robert Mugabe admits Zimbabwe's land reform flaws - BBC News

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has admitted failures in the country's controversial land reform programme.

"I think the farms we gave to people are too large. They can't manage them," the 91-year-old leader said in unusually candid comments.

In the past he has tended to blame poor agricultural productivity on the weather and Western sanctions.

The seizure of land from white farmers is seen as a key factor in Zimbabwe's economic meltdown since 2000.

The BBC's Brian Hungwe in the capital, Harare, says it is not the first time President Mugabe has criticised new black farmers - but his comments are surprisingly frank.

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Egypt suspends football league after deadly clashes - BBC News

The Egyptian authorities have suspended football league matches indefinitely after clashes at a stadium in Cairo left at least 22 people dead.

People were crushed after police fired tear gas at supporters of Zamalek who were trying to force their way in for a match against city rivals ENPPI.

The fans blamed the authorities for opening only a single gate.

An arrest warrant has been issued for the leaders of the Zamalek supporters group, the White Knights.

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