The Auditor General of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E Ahmed Isse Gutale, hosted a high-level meeting today with a delegation from the European Union. The talks focused on enhancing Somalia’s audit systems, improving financial oversight, and strengthening collaboration between federal and state audit institutions.
During the meeting, the two sides engaged in an in-depth discussion on the progress of the Auditor General’s office, emphasizing the crucial role that technical advisors play in supporting the office’s functions. They also explored ways to bolster cooperation between federal and state-level audit institutions, a key step towards improving Somalia’s financial transparency and accountability.
One of the major topics on the agenda was the financial support provided by the European Union to the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Federal Member States. The discussions centered on enhancing the procedures for auditing funds that pass through the Somali Financial Management Information System (SFMIS), ensuring that every financial transaction is thoroughly monitored and reviewed to prevent any misuse of funds.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of the ongoing cooperation between the Office of the Auditor General and the Budget and Finance Committee of the Somali Parliament. Both parties agreed on the necessity of maintaining a robust follow-up mechanism to ensure the proper implementation of audit recommendations issued by the Auditor General’s office.
In his remarks, Auditor General H.E Ahmed Isse Guutaale reaffirmed the office’s commitment to strengthening its partnerships with the Federal Member States. He emphasized the significance of this collaboration in driving the development of public services and improving financial transparency across Somalia. The meeting also explored avenues for enhancing the capacity and support for audit offices within the Federal Member States, which play a critical role in ensuring financial accountability at all levels of government.
The talks concluded on a positive note, with both sides expressing satisfaction over the mutual understanding achieved and pledging to continue their close cooperation in the future. The meeting is seen as a significant step towards reinforcing the foundations of financial transparency and accountability in Somalia, which remains a priority for both the Somali government and its international partners.
This meeting underscores the ongoing efforts of the Somali government, supported by international stakeholders like the European Union, to build a more transparent and effective public financial management system. The strengthened collaboration is expected to contribute significantly to Somalia’s governance reforms and its broader goal of ensuring sustainable development across the country.
