Ahmed Isse Gutale, the Auditor General of Somalia , has provided further information regarding his investigation into several of Somalia’s embassies abroad.
The investigation focused on the embassies of Turkey, Kenya, and Germany.
Mr Gutale revealed that funds totaling $1.9 million, collected by these embassies, were mismanaged and not reported in the government’s financial records.
“Revenue of 1.9 million seized by the Somali embassy in Kenya, Turkey and the German embassy was not managed well and was not included in the government’s financial report. Looking at the errors of the institutions that were investigated, there is financial omissions provided the financial audit or audit report for the year 2022 that was submitted to the national auditor’s office” said Ahmed Isse Gutale.
Additionally, the Auditor General highlighted that the total debt owed by Somali embassies in Kenya, Turkey, and Germany is $3 million, and this amount hasn’t been deposited into the government’s central treasury.
The revenue collected by the investigated embassies totaling three million dollars was not deposited into the central treasury of the government, while some of the revenue was collected in cash which eliminates transparency and accountability,” added the Auditor General Ahmed Isse Gutale yesterday while speaking to the media when the report was released.
Auditor General Mr Gutale emphasized that the lack of transparency and accountability is concerning, as some of the revenue remained unaccounted for.
