Mogadishu (Dawan Africa) – Somalia’s Auditor General announced on Saturday that three major courts in Somalia declined to cooperate with the 2024 legal compliance audit, despite holding millions of dollars in state budget allocations.
According to the report, the institutions that refused oversight are the Supreme Court of Somalia, the Banadir Regional Court of Appeal, and the Banadir Regional Court. Together, the three courts controlled a budget of more than $5.76 million in 2024.
The Auditor General warned that their refusal creates risks for accountability and public fund management. The findings also pointed to unremitted revenues, including fines, asset seizures, and service fees collected by courts but not deposited into the Treasury Single Account managed by the Ministry of Finance.
Official records confirmed that at least $1 million in state revenue was not deposited into the Treasury Single Account, instead remaining outside formal government channels.
The audit further noted that certain civil courts carried out functions beyond their judicial mandate, such as managing seized assets and engaging in enforcement activities.
“The resistance to audit reviews undermines transparency and weakens confidence in the management of public resources,” the Auditor General said.
The report urged judicial authorities and all state institutions to comply with financial management laws and allow independent oversight, stressing that transparency is central to public trust and good governance.
