Mogadishu, Somalia — Auditor General Reports on Passport Revenue Transparency. Mogadishu, Somalia — The Office of the Auditor General of the Federal Republic of Somalia held a high-level meeting on Monday to present findings on the transparency of government revenue generated from passport services.
The meeting aimed to enhance stakeholders’understanding of the assessment results and promote sustained cooperation among government institutions to ensure proper management of public revenue.
The Auditor General of Somalia, Ahmed Issa Guutaale, opened the session, which was attended by the Deputy Auditor General, Abdijamal Ismail Mohamed, and officials from the Immigration and Citizenship Agency and the Revenue Department of the Ministry of Finance. Faisal Mohamed Hashi, the Director of Revenue at the Ministry of Finance, emphasized the importance of safeguarding government revenue and commended the Office of the Auditor General for its role in monitoring and ensuring accountability in public finance management.
The assessment, according to official statements, revealed a discrepancy between collected revenue and amounts deposited into the Treasury Single Account (TSA), indicating potential embezzlement.
A forensic audit uncovered an embezzlement of $25. 9 million from work permits and passport services over a five-year period. Eleven officers have been convicted as a result of the audit.
The audit highlighted the need to ensure that all government revenue is properly collected and deposited into the TSA, in compliance with national financial management laws and procedures. Participants also discussed the risks associated with collecting revenue outside the official system and were presented with recommendations aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and the protection of public funds.
The Office of the Auditor General expressed its appreciation to all participating officials and reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying efforts to safeguard national assets and strengthen Somalia’s public financial management system.
Further details are expected as the government works to address the issues identified in the audit and improve the management of public revenue.
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Source: sonna.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
