Sheikh Shariif and Farmaajo Stole 300 Million

[hanad_mn]

Nairobi, Kenya (HOL) - The Somali treasury is missing a whooping USD300 million following revelations from the office of the Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi (Farmaajo) which indicated high level corruption within the interim institutions of the beleaguered Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.

An official at the office of Prime Minister Farmaajo said the missing millions of dollars are part of finances acquired by the interim government during 2009-2010 fiscal year, much of which were unaccounted for by Somalia’s the ministry of finance.

Abdirizack Haaji who is the head of finances at the office of the premier revealed how the Somali government has lost huge sums of money that it received as grants as well as revenues from Mogadishu airport and port.

The official indicated that most of the money was received by the Central Bank of Somalia following agreements with several governments including the USA, China, Libya, Rwanda, Oman, UAE and Sudan.

Speaking to the BBC Somali service the official added that the Somali government acquired more than USD311 million during the said period, however the government treasury could not account for the public finances expect only for a meager USD33million.

According to the official, in 2009 the Somali treasury collected as revenues about 11,529,000USD from the port of Mogadishu but the government treasurey could account for some six million dollars as port revenues.

The official said the amount of money missing so far and which the treasury is yet to account for gives a huge discrepancy that will have a profound impact to Somalia’s moribund economy.

The Somali treasury will have to explain where does the money went, a financial expert who sought anonymity told Hiiraan Online late on Sunday, as top officials of the TFG are yet to give statements over the state of the public finances.

The current revelations indicates a high profile corruption within the interim institutions as the cash-strapped authority of President Shariif struggles to maintain law and order only in the capital Mogadishu as the government fails to provide essential services to the troubled civilians.

It is not yet known why this government official has decided to blow the whistle at this point in time. Over the past few years, there has been widespread allegation of grand corruption within the interim institutions.

In recent years Somalia remained rooted to the bottom of the global corruption index. The country lacked an effective central government since 1991 when President Siad Barre was thrown out of power by a popular uprising.

The 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) from a Berlin-based watchdog rated Somalia, with a score of 1.1 out of 10, as the world’s most corrupt nation.

I am not buying money got lost shit. Why can't they admit they stole it. How can 300M get lost. I think Farmaajo and sharif split it.

[pmfaraajo]

TFG Ministers Slam Associated Press Reporting.Finance and Information Ministers Deny AP Allegations of Misuse of Gov't Funds

Somalia's Finance Minister Hussein Abdi Halane and Minister of Information Abdukarim Jama Halane said the Associated Press reporting of a leaked document that accuses the TFG of mishandling at least $300 million USD is 'irresponsible.'
The funds, according to the yet to be published report, covered the disposition internal revenues and contributions from Arab states. The foreign minister claimed during a Friday press conference in Mogadishu that the report information was unverified and amounted to mere speculation and rumor.
He stated that the current government is more transparent and accountable with regard to the intake and management of government funds and how to spend them. The two ministers further stated that, since they took over their respective offices, there has not been a single arrest for financial corruption.
“The same income that was taken in by the government several years ago and stolen or otherwise misappropriated by former ministers is now (due to the lack of corruption) sufficient to ensure prompt and regular payment of government staff whether they are military or civil servants,” Abdikarim Jama said.
The US-based Associated Press news service reported that Abdirasak Fartaag, head of the Public Finance Management Unit, denied published reports that the government has misused more than $300 million USD, including internal revenues, derived specifically from the port, airport, khat trade, the regional telecommunications industry, and Arab states between 2007 and 2010.

“When you are talking finance you need facts, statics, and documented evidences, which is currently lacking and thus mere speculation. It is regrettable that the Associated Press reported that, of the $300 million missing monies, $70 million USD from foreign assistance is missing.”
Speaking about Fartaag’s Public Finance Management Unit, which is responsible for the government’s overall financial management, Finance Minister Halane said, “There is no watchdog of finance management in the government. The Ministry of Finance is in charge, but we also have oversight from a parliamentary committee, as well as an accountant general. If you are looking for financial records then go to the accountant general or to the Ministry of Finance, as there is no one else who can produce any accurate and untarnished financial information.”

The information minister said that Abdirasak Fartaag used to work in the prime minister’s office, but was dismissed in January 2011. Further, he noted, “This gentleman is neither responsible for finance nor an employee of the current government.”

Both the finance and information ministers clearly stated that the claim in the Associated Press story was influenced by opposition political agendas and people who want to damage the reputation of the government.


“The difficulty that we see is that somebody published these numbers as fact. A lot of people pick it up of this and everybody is wondering where the $70 million is, where the $300 million is. We want to know who took the $70 million and who took the $300 million if indeed these facts are proven to be true,” Jama said.

“We do strongly believe that that is not the case, that these large amounts of money were never received by our government, and this story has damaged the reputation of the government. We take exception to this and find it a case of extremely irresponsible reporting,” he added.

Although the Associated Press reported that Fartaag’s claim was based on interview with politicians who witnessed the payment or received money in Mogadishu, the Somali finance minister said that the author of the report "spoke to none of the people who manage the government’s finances, whether it is the minister of finance or the accountant general."
Finance Minister Halane also denied that he told the Associated Press that he had seen the prime minster personally receive $5 million USD in cash on two separate occasions.
Despite the surprise of the TFG at allegations of corruption and mismanagement at the press conference they offered no direct rebuttals or proof to refute the charges contained in the report. In 2010 Somalia was rated #178, dead last, on Transparency International's scale of perceived corruption.
Editor's Note: Although the TFG attacked the Associated Press for running the story, the information was not gathered by Katharine Houreld of the AP but from a report generated by the Somalia Public Finance Unit. Houreld has broken a number of stories on Somalia and this most recent scoop has been widely syndicated.

[Cirwaaq]

Running a country is not cheap, and the bank accounts have holes from 20years of war.

Give it a rest unless you have hard evidence, the bank shold have recoreds of who withdrew the funds i tell you it is Bahuko he threatened to pull his troops out of the Villa unless he was paid 300million.

No Evidence no game

[Archerr]

If true waa rageedi. I wish Farmaajo would really take every penny designated for this government.

[Voltage]

If true waa rageedi. I wish Farmaajo would really take every penny designated for this government.

Lacag xaaraan ah laguma liibaano.

[Advo]

If true waa rageedi. I wish Farmaajo would really take every penny designated for this government.

Lacag xaaraan ah laguma liibaano.

I agree

[udun]

At least people are talking about corruption but my understanding is 300 Million US Dollars is all of the money wasted including port fees, and the money comes from overseas. How come nobody mentions billions of US Dollars wasted by corrup white males who are resident in Nairobi and walk around on behalf of Somalia begging in our name?

[AhlulbaytSoldier]

its nothing news, thats why its called dowlad ku sheegu.
they could have spend the 300 million in the army and long time ago(2009) waged heavy war against shabaab.
thats if they were a govt.


the offensive now is just to get extension, not to defeat shabaab.

[udun]

its nothing news, thats why its called dowlad ku sheegu.
they could have spend the 300 million in the army and long time ago(2009) waged heavy war against shabaab.
thats if they were a govt.


the offensive now is just to get extension, not to defeat shabaab.

How do you know?

Every Somali is a politician and wants people to believe his version of story that he/she is trying to preach.

[AsadSL]

This is why the Kacaan government was brought down

[ZubeirAwal]

i wonder whats the words of farmaajo if he's still here next year august too

face it TFG has a leash that says U.N property on it

[AhlulbaytSoldier]

its nothing news, thats why its called dowlad ku sheegu.
they could have spend the 300 million in the army and long time ago(2009) waged heavy war against shabaab.
thats if they were a govt.


the offensive now is just to get extension, not to defeat shabaab.

How do you know?

Every Somali is a politician and wants people to believe his version of story that he/she is trying to preach.

its not a science or math to figure this out.

ask urself: why are the offensives in gedo/jubboyinka/xamar happening at the time of elections?
to get extention.

why did obama kill osama before the election in 2012(i dont think it was osama in bottobad). to be re-elected.

nicca, politics are filthy games.

[zingii]

Nairobi, Kenya (HOL) - The Somali treasury is missing a whooping USD300 million following revelations from the office of the Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi (Farmaajo) which indicated high level corruption within the interim institutions of the beleaguered Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.

An official at the office of Prime Minister Farmaajo said the missing millions of dollars are part of finances acquired by the interim government during 2009-2010 fiscal year, much of which were unaccounted for by Somalia’s the ministry of finance.

Abdirizack Haaji who is the head of finances at the office of the premier revealed how the Somali government has lost huge sums of money that it received as grants as well as revenues from Mogadishu airport and port.

The official indicated that most of the money was received by the Central Bank of Somalia following agreements with several governments including the USA, China, Libya, Rwanda, Oman, UAE and Sudan.

Speaking to the BBC Somali service the official added that the Somali government acquired more than USD311 million during the said period, however the government treasury could not account for the public finances expect only for a meager USD33million.

According to the official, in 2009 the Somali treasury collected as revenues about 11,529,000USD from the port of Mogadishu but the government treasurey could account for some six million dollars as port revenues.

The official said the amount of money missing so far and which the treasury is yet to account for gives a huge discrepancy that will have a profound impact to Somalia’s moribund economy.

The Somali treasury will have to explain where does the money went, a financial expert who sought anonymity told Hiiraan Online late on Sunday, as top officials of the TFG are yet to give statements over the state of the public finances.

The current revelations indicates a high profile corruption within the interim institutions as the cash-strapped authority of President Shariif struggles to maintain law and order only in the capital Mogadishu as the government fails to provide essential services to the troubled civilians.

It is not yet known why this government official has decided to blow the whistle at this point in time. Over the past few years, there has been widespread allegation of grand corruption within the interim institutions.

In recent years Somalia remained rooted to the bottom of the global corruption index. The country lacked an effective central government since 1991 when President Siad Barre was thrown out of power by a popular uprising.

The 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) from a Berlin-based watchdog rated Somalia, with a score of 1.1 out of 10, as the world’s most corrupt nation.

I am not buying money got lost shit. Why can't they admit they stole it. How can 300M get lost. I think Farmaajo and sharif split it.

Xoolo foqol Xoolo, Wasn't Ina-Sharmake the prime minister?

[waryaa]

Lacag xaaraan ah laguma liibaano.

How come nobody mentions billions of US Dollars wasted by corrup white males who are resident in Nairobi and walk around on behalf of Somalia begging in our name?

u hit the nail on the head

Out of curiosity, I wonder why somali skinny girls (and large ones too) climb UN agencies ladder much faster than their male counterparts blame on these white males - lol

[LobsterUnit]

hustlaz