9 February 2023

Mogadishu, Somalia – Today, marqaati, an anti-corruption organization, is expressing grave concern and fears regarding today’s removal of the Auditor General in Somalia. The organization is calling on the World Bank and other donors to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate action to protect their projects and investments in the country.

We recently wrote a multi-year analysis of the AG reports, and it was essential to our work, showing how the OAG could be a tool for anticorruption efforts. You may find our report here: https://marqaati.org/en/2022/12/somalia-2022-corruption-report. We believe the AG was removed in response to our report, to bring in someone that would not expose the current administration and prevent marqaati’s ability to use OAG reports to find and report on financial misappropriation.

Somalia has a long history of poor governance, corruption, and lack of accountability, which has hindered its progress and development. The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has been a crucial resource for reports and advocacy, providing an independent and impartial assessment of the country’s financial management and public spending. The OAG was also an important watchdog, safeguarding the interests of the Somali people and ensuring that public resources were being used in an accountable and transparent manner.

The removal of the Auditor General and the appointment of a new Auditor General who is politically exposed, is a major cause for concern. The new Auditor General’s political ties and lack of independence raise serious questions about the impartiality and integrity of future audits, which could have a significant impact on donor-funded projects in the country.

“The removal of the Auditor General in Somalia is a setback for good governance, transparency, and accountability in the country,” said Mohamed Mubarak, Executive Director, marqaati. “We believe that it is important for the International Community to support efforts to promote good governance, transparency, and accountability in Somalia, and to ensure that public resources are being used in an effective and responsible manner.”

marqaati is urging the World Bank and other multilateral and bilateral donors to take immediate action to protect their projects and investments in Somalia, and to support efforts to promote good governance, transparency, and accountability in the country.

For more information, please contact us at info@marqaati.org. You may also contact us on our website contact form.

About marqaati

marqaati is a leading anti-corruption organization that works to promote good governance, transparency, and accountability in Somalia. The organization is committed to fighting corruption and promoting transparency and accountability in public life.