MOGADISHU – The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has called for immediate and enhanced oversight of revenue generated from passport services, warning that failure to channel funds through the Treasury Single Account (TSA) poses a significant risk to Somalia’s financial stability.
The directive follows the release of a comprehensive assessment by the OAG on Monday, which evaluated transparency in the collection, recording, and transfer of passport-generated income, one of the Federal Government’s most significant non-tax revenue streams.
Closing the Financial Leaks
During a high-level meeting in Mogadishu to unveil the findings, Auditor General Ahmed Issa Guutaale emphasized that enhanced monitoring is critical to “plugging financial leaks” and safeguarding public funds. The assessment underscored the necessity for complete adherence to financial regulations mandating that all government revenue be deposited directly into the Central Bank via the TSA system.
“Collecting funds outside authorized channels threatens economic stability and impedes reform initiatives,” the Auditor General’s office stated.
The push for TSA compliance aligns with previous government directives instructing all public institutions to consolidate cash resources, a key requirement for international debt relief and financial support.
Collaboration for Economic Reform
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Deputy Auditor General Abdijamal Ismail Mohamed and representatives from the Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA). The ICA has recently been the focus of extensive institutional reforms aimed at modernizing border management and improving service delivery.
Faisal Mohamed Hashi, the Ministry of Finance’s Revenue Director, welcomed the OAG’s oversight, stressing that protecting government revenue is essential as Somalia progresses with public financial management reforms. “Enforcing TSA compliance will enhance fiscal discipline, improve cash flow management, and increase confidence among international partners backing Somalia’s economic restoration,” authorities noted during the discussions.
Commitment to Accountability
The Auditor General formally announced that his office would heighten supervision of all income-generating services moving forward. This follows a year of active capacity building for the office, including training programs to bolster accountability across federal institutions.
Stakeholders at the meeting agreed to execute the assessment’s recommendations in partnership, aiming to decrease dependence on external assistance by maximizing domestically sourced income.
