A brave employee unveils a web of deceit, corruption and power abuse in the midst of Somalia's Auditor General's Office

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A brave employee unveils a web of deceit, corruption and power abuse in the midst of Somalia's Auditor General's Office

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – The In the dimly lit corridors of power, where accountability is often shrouded in secrecy, a brave whistleblower has cast aside the cloak of silence to reveal a tapestry of misdeeds, manipulation, and abuse of power

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Somalia Auditor General, Ahmed Isse Gutale.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – The In the dimly lit corridors of power, where accountability is often shrouded in secrecy, a brave whistleblower has cast aside the cloak of silence to reveal a tapestry of misdeeds, manipulation, and abuse of power within the Somali Auditor General's Office.

At the heart of this exposé stands Ahmed Gutale, a prominent figure known for his ownership of Radio Mustaqbal and his fervent support of Hassan Sheikh’s electoral campaign in 2022.

Abdalle Mohamed Ahmed of @oagsomalia reveals Corruption and misconduct committed by Ahmed Gutale Somalia’s Auditor General during his time at the National Audit Office. @SomaliPM @TheVillaSomalia @MOISOMALIA https://t.co/Yenr8WObGa pic.twitter.com/Jrwj8NEg1b
— Horn Observer (@hornobserver) August 23, 2023

However, the new revelations brought forth are far from celebratory; they paint a portrait of a high-ranking official who allegedly chose the path of malfeasance over the call of duty.

Ahmed Gutale’s ascent to the role of Auditor General on February 9, 2023, should have heralded an era of fiscal scrutiny and transparency. Yet, as penned in a meticulously worded three-page statement by Abdale Mohamed, the Director of Communications and IT at the Auditor’s Office, Gutale’s tenure seems to be marred by unsettling improprieties.

Published on a Wednesday that would forever mark a turning point, the statement discloses a disturbing tale of tampering with audit results, a sordid dance of power, and the questionable protection of vested interests.

Central to these allegations is the assertion how Gutale manipulated the outcomes of audit investigations, particularly skewing the opinions within the financial audit report. "Auditor General Gutale personally and illegally decided instead of using audit reports as a Disclaimer or Adverse but he made it a Qualified Opinion,” the statement reads, citing Gutale’s choice to alter the report’s tone.

The motivation behind this change, as claimed, was to safeguard personal, friendship, and group interests. In doing so, Gutale seemingly overlooked the principles of transparency and unbiased assessment that should underscore audit processes.

This very issue took center stage during a recent courtroom session at the Banadir Regional Court. A prominent legal figure laid bare the attempts made by Ahmed Gutale’s leadership to challenge the validity of audit review reports of 2018, 2019, and 2020, all compiled, submitted, and endorsed by the federal parliament.

But this saga of unbridled authority extends beyond textual modifications. The whistleblower lays bare an allegation that Gutale wielded his power to initiate and oversee special investigations that bypassed the standard procedures. Furthermore, investigations were halted and suspended arbitrarily, kept in the shadows without formal communication to the implicated entities.

"An aura of clandestine dealings envelops Gutale’s actions, as his secret meetings with those under investigation cast shadows over the transparency that should define his role,” the employee Mohamed narrates.

Conflict of interest

Perhaps most damningly, a narrative of conflict of interest comes to light. Gutale stands accused of exploiting his position to favor individuals and groups "through clan and political affiliations”. The very office designed to uphold accountability, it is suggested, becomes a stage for personal gain, fostering a network of patronage that dilutes its mission.

The whistleblower’s account reveals a darker side to Gutale’s conduct, exposing alleged bullying, harassment, intimidation, and abuse of his subordinates. The once-hallowed halls of the Auditor General’s Office are said to resonate with tales of Gutale’s assertions of impunity, invoking his appointment by the President as an unassailable shield.

Yet, the crescendo of allegations does not end here. The whistleblower underscores a claim that Gutale "demanded kickbacks from entities under investigation”, a practice that casts a stark shadow over the impartiality that should underline audit procedures. In this labyrinth of intrigue, Gutale emerges as a central figure whose actions, if proven true, challenge the very foundation of the Somali Auditor’s Office.

The fallout of these revelations, if substantiated, reverberates beyond the confines of the Auditor’s Office. It’s a narrative that spills into the corridors of government and threatens to stain the reputation of institutions that should be safeguarding the nation’s interests.

These revelations of Gutale’s alleged transgressions surface against a backdrop of prior allegations of corruption and wrongdoing within the Auditor’s Office, drawing attention to the pressing need for accountability and reform.

As the dust settles from these bombshell allegations, Somalia faces a reckoning. In a landscape already struggling against corruption and lack of transparency, the unveiling of these allegations raises profound questions about the country’s leadership, its commitment to accountability, and its aspirations for a just and prosperous future.