ABSTRACT The structural evolution of sovereign states within the Sahel, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Balkans is currently impeded by a sophisticated mutation of institutional corruption. As of January 2026, Geopolitical Friction Analysis reveals that corruption has transitioned from simple bribery to “Sovereign State Capture,” where Ultimate Beneficial Owners are no longer merely external actors but … Leggi tutto State Capture as a Developmental Brake: Investigating Illicit Financial Flows in the Sahel, Balkans and Sub-Saharan Africa