Auditor General Reveals $21 Million Not Deposited in Somalia’s Treasury from 2018 to 2023

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: The Auditor General has revealed that $21 million was not deposited to the national treasury account over a five-year period from March 2018 to April 2023.

The revelation, which was announced during the release of the outcome of a comprehensive financial audit investigation underscores ongoing efforts to combat corruption within the Federal Government of Somalia.

According to the Auditor General’s office, the federal government has undertaken several measures to combat corruption and that so far, 22 officers have been charged with 11 of them convicted.

The office further revealed that among the arrested officials, 15 are from the Immigration & Nationality Agency, three from the Ministry of Finance & Central Bank, and the remaining four are from the Ministry of Labor & Social Affairs.

“We have taken decisive action to hold accountable those who have abused their positions of trust,” the Attorney general’s office stated.

The investigation, which began on March 8, 2018, and concluded on April 20, 2023 uncovered gross compliance issues across various government departments.

The 2020 audit which examined activities from 2019 also raised suspicions about the legality and transparency of operations in numerous government sectors.

In a bid to eradicate corruption and enhance transparency and accountability in government departments, the Federal Government has intensified its anti-corruption efforts in a bid to demonstrate the government’s resolve to root out corruption and restore public trust in its institutions.