𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙒𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝: 𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙’𝙨 𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨

𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙒𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝: 𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙’𝙨 𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨

The protection of national wealth is a critical responsibility entrusted to public officials in Somaliland. This duty is enshrined in the country’s Constitution and laws, underscoring the importance of safeguarding public assets for the benefit of all citizens. However, recurrent allegations of misuse, negligence, and outright looting of public resources have raised serious concerns, demanding accountability and reform.

The incoming government of the president-elect, Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi “Cirro”, must prioritize addressing these violations. A strong commitment to justice and transparent governance is essential to restoring public trust and ensuring that national resources serve the people of Somaliland rather than a select few.

𝙇𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙡 𝙁𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙮

Somaliland’s Constitution, particularly Article 12, explicitly mandates the preservation and proper utilization of public resources. Additionally, the Anti-Corruption and Misuse of Public Property Act (Law No. 38/2007) provides a robust framework for holding officials accountable.

𝙋𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘼𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚

According to Article 5 of the Anti-Corruption Law:

Any official who exploits their office to gain personal benefits or grant undue advantages to others is subject to imprisonment ranging from 3 to 8 years.

This legal provision sends a clear message: no official, regardless of their position, is above the law. It reinforces the principle that public office is a trust, and breaching that trust has serious consequences.

𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩

The duty to protect national wealth and address corruption is vested in several key institutions:

𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 – As the nation’s leader, the president bears the ultimate responsibility for ensuring accountability.

𝟮. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 – Through its oversight committees, it monitors public resources and prevents misuse.

𝟯. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹’𝘀 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝘀 – These bodies have the legal authority to prosecute and adjudicate cases of public resource mismanagement.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙂𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩

The incoming government led by Dr. Cirro must take decisive action to address the systemic misuse of public resources. This includes:

● Launching thorough investigations into past instances of looting and mismanagement of national assets.

● Prosecuting offenders irrespective of their rank or political affiliation.

● Reforming governance structures to enhance transparency and accountability in public resource management.

● Strengthening anti-corruption institutions to ensure they operate independently and effectively.

Dr. Cirro’s administration must signal a new era where public officials are held accountable for their actions, and national wealth is treated as a collective trust.

The people of Somaliland also play a crucial role in this transformation. Citizens must remain vigilant, report instances of corruption, and demand transparency from their leaders. Protecting national resources is not only a legal obligation but also a moral one that reflects the values of fairness and justice.

𝘼 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙙

The looting and misuse of national wealth undermine development, erode trust in institutions, and harm the welfare of ordinary citizens. As Somaliland transitions to a new administration, the urgency of restoring integrity in public office cannot be overstated.

The incoming government of Dr. Abdirahman Cirro must lead by example, ensuring that those who have looted public property are held to account and that robust systems are established to prevent future abuses. Somaliland’s prosperity depends on leaders who prioritize the public good over personal gain and uphold the sanctity of the nation’s wealth.

The time for action is now. Protecting public resources is not just a matter of governance—it is a cornerstone for Somaliland’s future.

𝘼𝙗𝙙𝙞 𝙃𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙢 𝙈 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙖
E-mail:halimusa4@gmail.com
Hargeisa, Rep of Somaliland
𝙏𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙙𝙖𝙮, 5 𝘿𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 2024