Right to Development and Illicit Financial Flows from Africa: Dynamics, Perspectives, and Prospects(Africa: Past, Present & 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.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments Introduction by Gerard Emmanuel Kamdem Kamga, Serges Djoyou Kamga and Arnold Kwesiga Part 1: Digging for Development: Dynamic and Perspectives in Curbing Illicit Financial Flows from Africa Chapter 1: Agenda 2063: Illicit Financial Flows and Africa’s Right to Development by Toyin Falola Chapter 2: An Appraisal of the Architecture to Curb Illicit Financial Flows from South Africa and their Impact on the Right to Development by Gerard Emmanuel Kamdem Kamga Chapter 3: Ethiopia: Illicit Financial Flows' Consequences Exacerbating Conflict in the Northern Corridor by T.K. Seife Chapter 4: Tax Cooperation in Curbing Illicit Financial Flows from Africa by Arnold Kwesiga and Linah Aduda Chapter 5: State Complicity in Impairing its Development Rights: Salient Lessons from the Nigerian Halliburton Bribery Scandal by Marie-Louise F. Aren Chapter 6: Advocating for a Human Rights-Based Approach to Combatting Illicit Financial Flows by Annelie de Man Chapter 7: South African Banks, State Capture, Illicit Financial Flows and the Violation of the Right to Development by Marianne Séverin Chapter 8: Neoliberal Legality, Illicit Financial Flows and the Complicity of the South African Banking Sector by Isaac Shai and Felix Dube Chapter 9: The Gendered Impact of Illicit Financial Flows: Women’s Participation and Contribution in Curbing Illicit Financial Flows from Africa with Focus on Nigeria and South Africa by Olayinka Oluwakemi Adeniyi and John Olawuyi Part 2: Illicit Financial Flows, Multinational Corporations and Natural Resource Exploitation in Africa Chapter 10: Digging for Development: The Impact of Illicit Financial Flows on the Realisation of the Right to Development in Africa’s Mineral and Petroleum Exploration Industries by Rita Ozoemena and Chané Henney Chapter 11: Manufacturing Underdevelopment: Coins Trafficking as Illicit Financial Flows in Disguise within the Central Africa Economic and Monetary Cooperation (CEMAC) by Gerard Emmanuel Kamdem Kamga Chapter 12: Resource Financed Infrastructure under Sicomines Agreement as an Impediment to Achieving the Right to Development in the Democratic Republic of Congo by Tumba Dieudonné and Muyamba Mangu Chapter 13: Taxation, Tax Injustice and the Right to Development in Africa by Serges Djoyou Kamga Chapter 14: Hemorrhaging: The Impacts of Illicit Financial Flows on the Realisation of the Right to Development in Africa: A Case for Uganda by Nampwera Chrispus and Kirunga Joyce About the Contributors

About the Author :
Gerard Emmanuel Kamdem Kamga is senior lecturer and coordinator at the University of the Free State. Serges Djoyou Kamga is professor and dean of the faculty of law at the University of the Free State. Arnold Kwesiga manages the Business and Human Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria.

Review :
The central theme of this book is that illicit financial flows prevent African countries from fulfilling the right to development. The book's 14 articles are written mostly by people with a background in law and human rights. This emphasis on the right to development is one reason why many of the articles reference United Nations and African Union (or its predecessors) treaties and charters, and specific articles within them. The definition of illicit financial flows and their cost to Africa are given repeatedly, along with their relationship to the right to development. Multinational corporations, financial institutions, and other actors outside Africa are seen as aiding and abetting the illicit financial flows; their cooperation is necessary for these flows to end. The authors give specific attention to events in Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda with regard to illicit financial flows; they also supply more general articles on the topic. [Illicit] financial flows is an important topic with a wider impact than their hurt to progress in African countries. Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty. Covering almost all regions across the African continent, this book meticulously unravels the deleterious effects of Illicit Financial Flows in 'manufacturing underdevelopment' in Africa leading to siphoning of close to $90 billion per year that could have been better used to turn the tide on the elusive development agenda of Africa. This is indeed a timely offering in light of the recent launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).