Somaliland’s Auditor General, Muse Yusuf Idigaa, stated that 27 individuals have been arrested on charges related to corruption during the tenure of President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Cirro’s administration.
Muse Yusuf Idigaa noted that the President authorized rigorous investigations into government institutions, adding that the Office of the Auditor General has conducted the most extensive audit ever carried out in Somaliland.
He stated that his office prepared an annual audit report, which was submitted to the House of Representatives and shared with the media, asserting that citizens have a right to know how the taxes they pay are spent.
The Auditor General further mentioned that, for the first time, the audit accounts of government institutions have been made publicly available—a practice that was not followed by previous administrations.
“Audit accounts are transparent and should be known to the public; they are not something to be hidden,” Idigaa said, adding that his office has held government institutions accountable for identified irregularities and outlined the necessary corrective measures. However, the transparent manner in which the annual accounts of government institutions were presented has sparked debate among certain government officials, including the Governor of the Maroodijeex Region.
These officials opposed the way the data was disclosed, expressing concern that such transparency might lead the public to raise numerous questions regarding the administration and expenditures of government institutions; they suggested that the details of these accounts should instead be kept confidential.
Meanwhile, the opposition party, Kaah, has accused the government of widespread corruption, calling for genuine accountability to determine how public assets are being managed.
