Somalia’s Auditor General cancels contract with a vague company

Last year, the Auditor General has released a bombshell report accusing the government of Somalia of corruption and bypassing the central bank to keep $31 million worth of contracts in offshore accounts.

News Keydmedia Online
13 January 2022

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The office of the Auditor General has terminated a contract by the Minister of Commerce & Industry Khalif Abdi Omar with MARU Port Services Ltd Partnered with Kenya’s Intertek.

The ambiguous private Somali company was awarded the contract by the minister in a manner inconsistent with the country’s regulations and contracts, according to the AG’s statement on Wednesday.

MARU Port Services Limited was included other companies that check import and export goods at Mogadishu port with reports saying that the Prime Minister's office is involved in the canceled contract.

The Office of the Auditor-General has insisted that the decision will be enforced in line with the constitution and the Minister will be prosecuted if he disobeys his directives that ended the agreement.

According to a letter dated January 10, the World Bank has expressed concerns over the minister’s steps towards awarding pre-shipment inspection contracts which is contrary to Somalia's procurement act.

The Federal Government has engaged extensively with Somalia Bureau of Standards on this matter over the past few months,” said the global lender in a letter sent to the trade minister this week.

Last year, the Auditor General has released a bombshell report accusing the government of Somalia of corruption and bypassing the central bank to keep $31 million worth of contracts in offshore accounts.

After the civil war began in 1991, Somalia has been without effective government and corruption became rampant as the authorities entrusted with fighting the problem do not function well that led the impunity being the norm for public offices accused of malfeasance.

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