Somali Parliament Apologizes for 'Wrong Report' on Missing US $40 Million

Last week, reports from Somalia claimed that members of the parliament debated on a case of missing USD 40 Million which could not be accounted for by the finance ministry.

According to the reports, USD 20 Million out of the missing USD 40 Million was donated by the Saudi Arabian government to fund the 2019 Budget.

The members of parliament had demanded explanations from the Finance Minister, Dr. Abdirahman Duale, who appeared before the house in company of the chairperson of the Somali Central Bank.

However, in what certainly is a twist of events, the Deputy Speaker of the Somali Lower House of parliament, Hon. Mahad Awad, has tendered an apology to the finance ministry for the report tabled and debated on the floor of the house last Saturday.

Hon. Awad said the report was a mistake by house finance committee – who submitted the report for deliberation.

“I want to apologize in that debate was tabled in the house without first submitted to the house business committee," he said.

The Honourable Deputy Speaker also added that there is no money missing from 2019 budget as previously announced by the house fiancé committee and some members of the parliament.

“The parliament didn't say [over] USD 40 M is unaccounted for [the committee said it], so we want to apologies to the people and ministry of finance," he added.

He went further to say that because the debate in the house on the missing funds from the fiancé ministry circulated like wild fire and aroused criticism from citizens and allies, the house will not table the issue again.