Somali Marks International Anti-Corruption Day As Auditor General Exposes Bunch Of Backroom Deals

BY: Ahmed Mohamed (Arab)

Somalia marked the International Anti-Corruption Day on Wednesday against the backdrop of new revelations which implicate Somali politicians for devising new crafty ways of making huge profits from the country’s meagre coffers.

December 9th is dedicated to raising awareness of corruption and commemorating the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

This year’s theme is “breaking down barriers – promoting civil society’s role in anti-corruption”.

The event comes a day after Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud handed over National Fuel depots to Somali entrepreneurs and where the subject of corruption featured prominently in his speech.

The Transparency International (TI) survey has put Somalia and North Korea on a red colour in the new map of the world’s most corrupt nations.

“Fast-growing economies, whose governments refuse to be transparent and tolerate corruption, create a culture of impunity in which corruption thrives.” Said Jose Ugaz, the chair of Transparency International.

Western and other donors have poured billions of dollars into Somalia, funding the army’s battle against Islamist insurgents and helping to rebuild vital state institutions but instead some individuals divert the money for personal use.

Earlier this year, Nur Jumale Farah, Somalia’s Auditor General, said his office had investigated all 25 government ministries and promised to publish the findings. That has not happened to date.

Speaking to Goobjoog News last night, the Auditor General conceded that Somalia continues to stay on top of the world’s most corrupt countries’ list with widespread backroom deals seem to be occurring all the time.

“Last year, Financial Governance Committee (FGC) recorded almost 12 backroom deals, Somali government signs deals with local and foreign investors without observing the legal process,” Noor said.

The government leaders, he claimed, hoodwinked the public and signed deals which are based on public-private partnership.

Noor added: “All contracts including that of the airport, port, Digfeer hospital and National depots, which were handed over either foreign or local investors, were not clean deals”