Hiiraan Online

Mogadishu (HOL) — Attorney General Sulayman Mohamed Mohamoud disclosed the identities of 18 high-ranking Somali officials on Tuesday, including the Immigration Agency's former and current directors, wanted in connection with a significant corruption investigation. The officials have been charged with crimes related to $21 million reportedly missing from government coffers during a period of financial hardship for the country.

Among the implicated officials are the former Director of the Immigration Agency, Dr. Mohamed Adan Jimale 'Koofi,' and his successor, Abdulqadir Elmi Ali 'Abdul.' Both men are believed to have fled Somalia, with Abdul thought to be in Kenya and Koofi potentially residing in Europe.

The corruption probe, launched by the auditor general's office, investigated the period from March 2018 to 2023, when Koofi and Abdul directed the Immigration and Naturalization Directorate. The inquiry has led to nearly a dozen senior government officials abandoning their posts for fear of prosecution, causing further instability in the already fragile Somali government structure.

Currently, 9 of the accused officials are in custody, while 9, including Koofi and Abdul, remain at large.

This corruption case marks a significant development in Somalia's governance since the collapse of the central government in 1991. The allegations involve multiple government departments and ministries and highlight one of the largest corruption scandals in the country's recent history.

The prospects of Somalia receiving comprehensive debt relief from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other global creditors hinge greatly on significant improvements in revenue collection and fiscal transparency. If successful, this would drastically reduce Somalia's debt from the current $5.2 billion to an estimated $550 million by 2023. The need to combat public corruption and restructure its financial institutions is central to this effort. Consequently, the Somali government is ramping up its measures to fight corruption, reflecting a shift toward a more aggressive approach in addressing graft.

The list of officials charged includes those both in custody and missing. Among those apprehended are Abdullahi Mohamed Ali, the Director General of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and Omar Maallin Kutin, the Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs. Those still at large include Abdirahman Abdikarin Ibrahim, Head of the Foreigners' Licensing Department under Labor Law, and Abdullahi Dahir Weheliye, the Bank Cashier at the Aden Adde Airport Branch.