Somalia Records First Clean Audit of Public Finances, PM Barre Says

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia’s public finances have received a clean audit opinion for the first time, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has said, describing the finding as a milestone in efforts to improve financial management and accountability.

The announcement came during the weekly meeting of Somalia’s Council of Ministers in Mogadishu, where ministers reviewed the Ministry of Finance’s report on the country’s 2025 annual accounts.

The report covered economic performance, domestic revenue collection and financial reforms, and recorded 3.1% economic growth in 2025.

A clean, or unqualified, audit opinion is the highest assessment an auditor can issue. It means the financial statements are considered to fairly represent the government’s finances without material qualifications.

For Somalia, the finding is significant because reliable public accounts and stronger financial controls are seen as important to improving the management of state resources, increasing domestic revenue and strengthening confidence among international partners.

Prime Minister Barre welcomed the audit result and called for further efforts to make Somalia more economically self-reliant.

He said the government needed to expand domestic production, increase revenue collection, encourage investment and strengthen transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

The prime minister also said Somalia’s economy was recovering and expressed confidence that the country could eventually reduce its dependence on foreign assistance.

The audit result comes as Somalia seeks to strengthen its financial institutions following years of reforms aimed at improving public financial management and increasing domestic revenue.

Earlier this week, Somalia’s Office of the Auditor General joined an International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) working group dedicated to combating corruption and money laundering.

The group works on issues including public procurement, corruption risks, money laundering and the recovery of stolen assets.

The two developments highlight a broader effort to strengthen financial oversight in Somalia and bring its public institutions closer to internationally recognised standards.

But a clean audit does not mean that Somalia has become financially self-sufficient. An audit opinion assesses the reliability and presentation of financial accounts; it does not determine whether a government raises enough revenue to meet its spending needs.

Somalia continues to face significant challenges in expanding its domestic revenue base, financing public services and reducing its reliance on external support.

For the government, however, the first clean audit provides an important measure of progress as it seeks to build stronger institutions and greater confidence in the management of public finances.

The Council of Ministers also reviewed a security report covering recent operations by Somali forces against Al-Shabaab and developments on the front lines.