LOFTA Under Attack

A United Nations sponsored report has found that Afghanistan government officials who headed up an organization that provided oversight of the Afghan police has not been doing their job. The report found that only 9 cases of 2,000 were referred for prosecution. The senior Afghan police officials suppressed corruption complaints against the police. The report was commissioned by the Law and Order Trust Fund of Afghanistan (LOTFA) late last year. It was completed in January 2015 but never shown to senior UN officials. LOFTA has received around $3.6 billion from international donors to pay for Afghan police force salaries and other expenses but investigation after investigation finds that the money is re-routed into the personal accounts of senior police officials. (Those villas in Dubai can be expensive!).

Read News Reports:

"UN investigation finds corruption in Afghan police oversight division", Thomson Reuters Foundation, April 19, 2015.
www.trust.org/item/20150419043015-b3w06/

Additional Resources about LOFTA:

Ministry of Finance Afghanistan Explanation of LOFTA
United Nations Development Program - LOFTA
Bahum Newsletter - LOFTA Monthly Newsletter

Sarah Chayes Interview

Sarah Chayes, the author of "Thieves of State", is interviewed by Samuel Rubenfeld about her book and corruption in Afghanistan. Chayes spent many years in Afghanistan and has first hand experience on the effects of corruption on the population of Afghanistan. In the interview ". . . she discussed the emotional effects of corruption, its effects on global security . . . " and more. She explains that Afghan people became more permeable to the Taliban message because of how they were treated by Afghan government officials. Chayes was brought to Kabul as an advisor to ISAF and she became to recognize that the Afghan government had many aspects of a criminal enterprise. Her research into corruption has widened beyond Afghanistan - to other countries as well. In the interview she says that private corporations have an obligation to try and stem corruption. Read the interview in "Corruption 'Isn't Just the Cost of Doing Business'", The Wall Street Journal, April 10, 2015.

1/2 of Afghan Customs Revenue is Stolen

One of the drawbacks to a reduced U.S./NATO presence in Afghanistan is that progress is slowed in many areas to include security, development, and governance. Advancement in these three areas are a key factor in the fight against insurgents. However, with the 'thinning up' of the advisory effort - pulling advisory teams (SFAATs) off the lower levels of the ANA, ANP, Afghan Border Police, customs border control points, and other government organizations we see corruption starting to become a larger problem. This is evident in the customs service of Afghanistan. Our advisors (from the military and the Department of Homeland Security's Border Management Task Force) are no longer looking over the shoulder of customs officials of the eleven border control points such as Torkham Gate and Spin Boldac. Customs revenue accounts for over 1/3 of the Afghan government's domestic revenue; however, half the customs proceeds never reach Kabul. With the departure of U.S. forces from the border posts the customs revenue collection has reached its lowest point in over four years. Read more in "U.S. Still Giving a Corrupt Afghanistan a Blank Check", The Fiscal Times, March 11, 2015. Read another article on the same topic in "Afghanistan Can't Manage Billions in Aid, U.S. Inspector Finds", Bloomberg News, March 10, 2015. Read a letter sent to General Lloyd Austin, commander of U.S. Central Command, by the office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) that provides more information of the rampart corruption within the Afghan customs service.

Corruption Report by Transparency International

Transparency International has published a comprehensive report on corruption in Afghanistan. Afghanistan ranked 172 out of 175 countries in the 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index. Despite billions of dollars allocated for military training, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) reports that just 29 per cent of Afghan Army units have the level of training required to allow them to operate independently with advisors (and many units no longer have advisors attached). The report, entitled Corruption: Lessons from the international mission in Afghanistan, was published in February 2015. The report identifies nine reasons the international community was slow to develop a response to corruption in Afghanistan. It proposes a framework for policy makers to address corruption issues in Afghanistan and in future interventions. There is no doubt that the Resolute Support Advisors working in Essential Function 3 TAO found this report interesting. The report is an Adobe Acrobat PDF, 72 pages long, and 2 MBs big. It can be read online or downloaded at the link below.

www.transparency.org/files/content/pressrelease/2015_Corruption_Lessons_From_Afghanistan_EN.pdf

Corruption and Losing Wars

Arnold R. Isaacs writes about the devastation that corruption causes to a counterinsurgency operation. He writes on the corruption he witnessed during his three year work period in the last years of the Vietnam War. He comments further expressing concern that counterinsurgency efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan are hampered by rampart government corruption - eroding support for the host nation government and providing support to insurgents. Read "Can Corruption Lose Wars?", Cicero Magazine, February 19, 2015.

SIGAR Prompts Contract Review by Ghani

It appears that President Ghani is following through on some of his campaign promises. He stressed that the massive corruption within the Afghan government and Afghan National Security Forces has to be addressed. Officials from the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) recently met with President Ghani to discuss concerns about reports of corruption. Twelve logistics contracts - from uniforms, rice, fuel, and more are being scrutinized in an inquiry. Read more in "Afghan leader orders graft review for all army supply contracts", Reuters, March 4, 2015.

Kam Air - Least Safe Airline

According to a recent news report Kam Air - an Afghan airline - is one of the most dangerous airlines in the world. It sits at the top of the list with three other airlines - Nepal Airways, SCAT Airline (Kazakhstan), and Tara Air (Nepal). Apparently flying in the high remote mountains of Nepal is dangerous. In fact, all four airlines are prohibited from flying in the airspace of the European Union (EU).  Kam Air has also been the subject of controversy a few years back. It was the centerpiece of an investigation by the United States of drug smuggling activities where high level officials were involved. However the corrupt President Karzai came to the airlines' rescue. Read about the safety of Kam Air in "The world's safest and least safe airlines", AOL.com, January 8, 2015.

SIGAR - Problems with ANP Pay

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has released a report criticizing the oversight on the pay and personnel processes of the Afghan National Police (ANP). One of the targets of the report is the administration of the Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA) administered by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Missy Ryan of The Washington Post writes about the report in a January 12, 2015 news report. Some of the problems highlighted include:

- There is little assurance that the funds are going to active police personnel (ghost policemen) or that the amounts are correct (skimming off the top of each policeman's pay).
- Electronic human resources systems still not successfully implemented.
- Twice as many ANP ID cards as there are policemen.
- Inflated police rosters, inflated salaries.
- UNDPs independent monitoring inflates figures of verified ANP personnel.
- Limited visibility over ANP data collection processes.
- Great risk of funds being diverted for corrupt purposes.

You can read the actual report at the link below.

SIGAR 15-26 Audit Report, Afghan National Police: More than $300 Million in Annual, U.S.-funded Salary Payments is Based on Partially Verified or Reconciled Data, January 2015.
http://www.sigar.mil/pdf/audits/SIGAR-15-26-AR.pdf

Afghanistan to Continue Anti-Corruption Efforts

President Ghani has made much of his campaign promise to root out corruption. Of course, all Afghan politicians make the same proclamations, but some believe that Ghani actually means it and his verbal assertions are backed up with his recent actions. Read more in "Afghanistan shows will to root out corruption", Central Asia Online, January 9, 2015.

Corruption - Drug Kingpin Goes Free

Afghanistan's judicial system is a farce. We are once again confronted with another example of how corrupt the Afghan police and judicial system is with the news that a leading opium trafficker has been released from prison. Haji Lal Jan Ishaqzai has been on the U.S. kingpin list but is now free - having been released. He has fled to Pakistan. His high-profile prosecution by Afghan authorities had been trumpeted by ISAF as proof that the Afghan judicial system was working. Not so much. Mr. Ishaqzai bribed his way out of prison - paying off a cross-section of people in the criminal justice system with millions of dollars. Read more in "Bribery Frees a Drug Kingpin in Afghanistan, Where Cash Often Overrules Justice", The New York Times, December 31, 2014.

Herat Govt Officials Dismissed by Ghani

Afghan President Ghani has fired several governmental officials in Herat province due to charges of corruption. Ghani visited Herat and announced the dismissal of the provincial head's of the attorney, oil, power, customs and education offices. He also fired the heads of police in all of Herat's 15 districts. Very welcome news indeed! Read more in "Afghan President Dismisses Officials in Western Province", Radio Free Europe, December 27, 2014.

Afghan Elections - Unanswered Questions

The international community can look back at 2014 and say that the Afghans had a democratic transition from one Afghan leader to another through elections. However, below the surface are a number of questions that nag one's outlook. While the election(s) was held successfully and the international community rejoiced that the era of international troops engaging in combat operations in Afghanistan is over - there is much to worry about. Despite the election of President Ghani who claims he will reduce corruption - the warlords and power brokers still control many of the positions within the government and security forces. The economy is in a shambles. The Taliban are stronger than ever (announcements of ISAF otherwise should be disregarded). Read more in "Afghanistan elections leave unanswered questions for future", Stars and Stripes, December 23, 2014.

Customs Officials Largely Corrupt

Tolo News reports in a news article that there is widespread corruption in Afghanistan's customs system (big surprise there!). The customs operation is coming under scrutiny as a result of the new National Unity Government crackdown on corruption. It is hoped that if corruption with the customs officials can be lessened the government will begin to decrease its revenue shortfall. Custom officials are the source of the problem and widespread firings need to take place. Afghan businessmen are routinely expected to pay bribes to get goods into Afghanistan. Read more in "Experts Say Customs Agents are Main Source of Corruption", Tolo News, December 17, 2014.

Afghan's Millionaires

There is tremendous poverty in Afghanistan yet there are an abundance of millionaires. Some Afghans became rich because of their ability to manipulate the government system and steal money. Others became rich as a result of hard work and good business sense. Read a news article about "Afghanistan's New Millionaires", Bloomberg Business Week, December 18, 2014.

Interview - NPR Speaks to J. Sopko

National Public Radio (NPR) interviews John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, about Afghan corruption. Listen to the four minute audio tape on NPR. "Fight Against Corruption in Afghanistan Press On", NPR, December 18, 2014.

EU Says Widespread Fraud in Afghan Election

A report by European Union election observers states that widespread fraud took place during the Afghan presidential elections. It says that over 1/4 of the votes cast came from polling stations with voting irregularities. More than 2.3 million votes during the runoff came from polling sites in which more than 95 per cent of the votes went to one candidate. The European Union's chief observer for the Afghan election, Thijs Berman, said of the fraud - "That is a North Korea situation". Read more in "E.U. Confirms Wide Fraud in Afghan Presidential Runoff Election", The New York Times, December 16, 2014.

Corruption in Afghanistan

An article recently published in Joint Force Quarterly (published by the National Defense University) explores in great detail the corruption that takes place in Afghanistan. Read "Dealing with Corruption: Hard Lessons Learned in Afghanistan", Joint Forces Quarterly 75, by Richard Holdren, Stephen Nowak, and Fred Klinkenberger, September 30, 2014. Abstract is below:

"Operation Enduring Freedom has exacted a tremendous cost on the United States in terms of both blood and treasure. By the end of fiscal year 2013, the financial toll had reached $645 billion. While we have made a significant investment in rebuilding Afghanistan, certain actors have seen our sacrifice as an opportunity to enrich themselves by stealing money and material intended to aid in the rebuilding of the country".

Efshagar - Reporting Corruption in Afghanistan

How can an Afghan citizen report corruption? It is now possible using a website called "Efshagar". Efshagar was created by Integrity Watch Afghanistan to allow anyone in Afghanistan to report and track corruption anonymously. Efshagar harnesses the collective power of active citizens in the fight against corruption by reporting on the type, location, government agency or office, and value of corrupt acts. The report can be entered via the website or by SMS. Learn more at the Efshagar website.
www.efshagar.af

Making of a Narco State

In 2014 Afghanistan produced 90% of the world's supply of opium. The drug trade is an integral part of Afghanistan's economy and the corruption goes up to the highest of levels within the police, military, and government. Read more in "Afghanistan: The Making of a Narco State", Rolling Stone, by Matthieu Aikins, December 4, 2014.

Challenging Corruption in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is languishing at the bottom of the Transparency International Corruption Index ranking 175 out of 177 nations in 2013. In December 2014 new results will be announced and Afghanistan is sure to be in the top ten most corrupt countries in the world. The world community is meeting in London this week discussing renewed financial support for Afghanistan. Many observers are leery of providing increased or continued aid to the country because much of the money is siphoned off by corrupt Afghan government officials and does not get to the poor. Corruption is viewed by many Afghans as the most important problem in Afghanistan after the issue of security. Corruption fuels the insurgency with much of the rural population supporting the Taliban against a government that does not govern, provide services, encourage development, and ensure security. Transparency International is offering six recommendations that the Afghan government officials and international donors should consider:

1. Promote clean leadership in key institutions.
2. Make the judiciary independent.
3. Establish a best practice right to information regime.
4. Establish an independent anti-corruption agency.
5. Make asset declaration mandatory for all who hold power.
6. Procurement transparency.

Read more details of Transparency International's recommendations in "Challenging Corruption in Afghanistan" (December 1, 2014).