Corruption allegations rattle Somaliland’s government

The finance minister of Somaliland who is responsible for the annual fiscal budget and the issuance of adequate regulations for their executions is under criminal investigation over allegations of fraud, bribery and misuse of public funds, officials said.

The scandal surrounding more than $21 million in state spending, parts of $50 million budget meant for various public sectors that his excellence Sa’ad Ali Shire’s had allegedly used to purchase personal properties mostly villa’s in the United Kingdom  has shaken public trust in the government.

A senior Somaliland official told the central committee of communist party of Somaliland that the minister’s significant relationship with the president made it difficult for the anti-corruption commission to conduct a proper investigation into the allegations of corruption.

Some of the commission’s members have also been bribed by the minister to avoid public scrutiny, officials say.

Some of the funds missing from public coffers were approved by the government to execute public projects including Agriculture, Land Management, Local Production Motivation, Good Governance, Economy and Public property.

One official privy with the probe by the president’s office alleged that the minister, a Somali-British economist had used some of the money to buy shares from the local telecom company owned by Mr. Mohamed Saed Aw Geudi , using his stooges at the ministry. Using its corporate influence, the company had reportedly pushed for a tax exemption status, which resulted in a partial relief from taxes, thanks to the minister who succeeded in implementing a 60% tax exemption for the company.

For the history Books we mention that Dahabshil Company got few years ago license for exploitation old cement factory in Berbera which the company was sure it can rebuild it and return back to its glory days , unfortunately his excellence minister Sa’ad Ali Shire oppose by tooth and nail that idea what led withdrawal of Dahabshil Group from the project. The same cement factory in Berbera  is now awarded to Mr. Mohamed Saed Aw Guedi by His cousins Minister Sa’ad Ali Shire and Colonel Muse Bihi Abdi , In business circles its normal to say who knows who in Somaliland it’s who related to who …. We The People Of Somaliland should protest this last move.

In corruption cases analysts warned that efforts by the officials, mostly from opposition parties to bring criminal charges against Minister Sa’ad Ali Shire  for alleged misuse of state money will fail due to corruption tolerance by leaders, a scenario which was attributed to the increasing corruption culture in the enclave.

Mr. Sa’ad Ali Shire’s whose tenure has been hit by allegations of state graft hasn’t returned to calls seeking comment.

However, local media reported that corruption cases increased since the incumbent president of Somaliland Muse Bihi Abdi  came to power nearly two years ago .

”Millions of dollars have been stolen from the people by the group of individuals called Heego close to the current system including direct family members of Mr.Bihi Abdi. Corruption is one of the main factors damaging the dignity of our nation.” reported by the local Somaliland Informer Daily.

The breadth of the corruption now coming to light has astonished even government officials.

“This calls the government’s publicity of transparency and good governance into question.” A Somaliland minister said by phone from Hargeysa, Somaliland’s capital. He declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Millions of dollars are channeled through the Somaliland government by donors every year to promote good governance, infrastructure and security.

Long live international Solidarity

Secretariat of the Central Committee 

Somaliland Communist Party