Somalia’s Auditor General Reports Over $1 Million Missing From Federal Treasury  

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s Auditor General on Saturday reported that more than $1 million is missing from the federal treasury, in a damning annual audit that also revealed several key government institutions — including top courts — refused to cooperate with anti-corruption investigations.

Ahmed Issa Guutaale said the 2024 audit reviewed the financial compliance of 21 federal agencies. However, three major institutions, all within the judiciary, rejected participation in the review without offering legal justification.

“The refusal and resistance to audit processes not only pose serious financial risks and hidden administrative failures, but also undermine the entire system of public oversight and accountability,” Guutaale said.

The three agencies named in the report were: the Supreme Court, which received a $2.7 million allocation in the 2024 budget; two appellate courts in the Banaadir region, with a combined budget of $937,179; and three district courts in the same region, allocated $2.1 million.

Guutaale warned that the lack of transparency raises serious concerns about whether these funds were used in the public interest.

The report comes as Somalia continues to rank as the most corrupt country in the world, according to Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index. Analysts say the refusal of judicial bodies to undergo financial scrutiny severely undermines public trust and the rule of law in a country struggling with institutional reform.

“This level of noncompliance casts significant doubt on whether public funds are being managed in any way that benefits the government or Somali citizens,” Guutaale said.

The Auditor General’s findings are expected to fuel calls for greater accountability and international pressure on Somalia’s government to strengthen its anti-corruption framework.

GAROWE ONLINE