Integrity and transparency is of vital importance in today’s military operations, which include international interventions, peacekeeping missions, and international military assistance during internal armed conflict. Corruption is often both a cause and a consequence of conflict, and effectively addressing it is key to the success of a mission and for post-conflict state building.

There are many specific corruption risks within military operations.  These may include:

• Unauthorized cash requests for permits or at roadblocks.
• Failures in the salary chain meaning that troop or police salaries are not paid.
• Corruption in the supply chain.
• A lack of control or transparency in security outsourcing.
• Inadequate control and transparency in asset disposal by the armed forces.
• When receiving equipment, bribes may be demanded or equipment may be incomplete or not arrive at all.
• Misuse of intelligence material and assets.
• Local procurement carried out without adequate controls.
• Private businesses run by security forces.
• Bribery to avoid conscription

Corruption undermines any mission’s credibility and its chances of success. In many cases, corruption is a main driver in the build up to, initiation, and/or maintenance of conflict. With increased focus on stabilization operations and conflict prevention, there is a growing recognition that conflict is a major conflict dynamic, contributes to instability, and directly influences military operations.

At the tactical level, the degree of integrity displayed by soldiers and commanders on the ground influences the attitude of the general population towards the military and the mission, and respect and confidence can be won or lost.  

Corruption wastes operational resources, be this through corruption in our own supply and contracting chains, through corruption in partner national forces, or through misappropriation of funds and goods intended for stabilisation projects.     

In many conflict environments, international peacekeeping missions or intervention forces are used to provide internal security. Border forces and domestic intelligence and security agencies are often structured as part of the defence ministry and classified as military forces, making it even more important that these missions are transparent and accountable.   

Military intervention in another state can be a driver of corruption. Interventions bring major flows of resources and funds into a country, often without adequate accountability mechanisms. Corruption during operations is not a one-way street, and military missions must address the corruption risks in their ranks as well as those in the countries they operate in.

Read more on Operational Risks.

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