Corruption allegations, abuse prompt Somalia's Information Minister to offer resignation - sources

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Corruption allegations, abuse prompt Somalia's Information Minister to offer resignation - sources

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) - Sources within the Somali government have revealed that Daud Aweys, the Minister of Information, offered his resignation to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud last week.

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Friends say minister Daud Aweys [left] is under threat by his deputy [right] and offered his resignation.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) - Sources within the Somali government have revealed that Daud Aweys, the Minister of Information, offered his resignation to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud last week.

Aweys cited widespread corruption within his ministry and mounting allegations of power abuse and human rights violations under his leadership as reasons for his decision. Three sources familiar with the matter disclosed this information to Horn Observer.

Minister Aweys, who hails from the marginalized Somali Bantu ethnic group, also expressed his dissatisfaction with the disrespect and mistreatment he faced from his deputy, Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adaala. Al-Adaala, a former officer of the Islamic Courts Union, belongs to the dominant Hawiye clan, known for its armed influence.

According to a source within the minister's office, Aweys expressed his gratitude to the president for initially appointing him to the position but emphasized that he believed enough was enough and offered his resignation. President Mohamud, however, urged the minister to be patient, suggesting that a reshuffling of the cabinet might bring about changes in the roles within the cabinet including the ministry of information.

Daud Aweys, a former journalist with the BBC and Voice of America, assumed the role of Minister of Information on August 2, 2022. However, close associates and staff members assert that he has faced constant threats and marginalization, preventing him from effectively fulfilling his responsibilities.

A staff member from the Ministry of Information stated, "He is constantly under threat and unable to carry out his duties properly. He is unaware of how the budget is being spent." Another concerning issue raised during a briefing with foreign diplomats in November was Aweys' lack of knowledge about the number of employees within his ministry and their respective departments, as these appointments were allegedly orchestrated by his powerful deputy.

Aweys' offer to resign last week coincided with allegations of corruption and sexual harassment within the ministry. Farah Dharar, the former director of the national television station SNTV, revealed that when portions of the ministry's budget was diverted for personal use.

Dharar added, "The money goes into the pockets of the Deputy Minister of Information, Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adaala. Nobody questions where the money goes—not even the minister dares to inquire."

According to the 2023 Budget Appropriation Act, the Federal Ministry of Information is allocated USD 6,217,798 for the fiscal year 2023, while it spent USD 5,326,889 in fiscal year 2022. Furthermore, thousands of dollars collected from local media institutions and advertising firms under the guise of "registration fees" never enter the Ministry of Finance's accounts. Instead, they are received in cash by individuals within the deputy minister's office.

The minister's decision to offer his resignation comes at a time when the Ministry of Information is facing severe criticism. In October 2022, the ministry issued a restrictive directive banning independent media coverage of al-Shabaab-related reporting. This was followed by another order instructing journalists to label al-Shabaab as "khawarij," meaning 'deviant from the religion.'

The ministry’s actions were widely condemned for endangering journalists.

Subsequently, the national intelligence raided the offices of the Somali Journalists Syndicate in Mogadishu, resulting in the arrest and trial of its secretary-general, Abdalle Mumin, after the media rights group denounced the ministry's directive. Once again, the deputy minister was implicated as the instigator of the raid and Mumin's illegal detention and persecution.

When approached for his comment on the matters discussed in this article, Minister Aweys neither confirmed nor denied it. Instead, he stated that he is unable to provide any statement on the matter at this time.

Aweys' decision to resign comes just six months after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was lured to an event at the ministry, where he inaugurated a dubious new television station. The state minister for the presidency, Abshir Ahmed (Abshir Bukhari), claimed that the "new" TV station would be used to counter al-Shabaab's extremist ideology. However, questions have been raised regarding the legitimacy and intentions behind the establishment of the station.