Somalia's embassy in Oman on spot over corruption

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The office of the Auditor General has raised several audit queries over what appears to be grand corruption in Somalia’s embassy in Oman, a move that could trigger mass sackings by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is in charge of foreign missions.

The investigations commenced in 2022 and span a duration of four years, covering 2019-2023. The investigation exposed mass corruption, abuse of power, forgery, and misappropriation of funds, a move that risks the jobs of foreign mission employees in Muscat.

"These findings reveal a concerning trend of unethical practices and financial mismanagement within the embassy," the report, which has since been made public, reads in a part.

The unauthorized sale of property owned by the embassy was also mentioned, with the Auditor General saying such incidents irreversibly spoil the reputation of the country and violate principles of integrity and honesty for public servants.

Additionally, illegal agreements made by the ambassador resulted in substantial government revenue losses, and donations from the Sultanate of Oman were misappropriated. Senior officials of the embassy have been implicated and could be sacked soon.

The report stressed the necessity of transparency and accountability in government operations, stating, "Appropriate management of financial and administrative powers is essential for ensuring stability, development, and trust in government institutions."

Somalia is currently one of the most corrupt countries in the world but President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has invested in clean-up, with several people taken to court over corruption. The government of Somalia has also invested in new fiscal policies to minimize corruption.

GAROWE ONLINE