By Dalmar:
Mogadishu, Somalia –
On Thursday, the office of the Minister of Finance issued a decree suspending two key officials: Mohamed Abdirahman Anas, the Accounting General, and Faysal Mohamed Hashi, the Director General of Revenue at the Ministry of Finance of Somalia. He reverses the decision within 24 hours in a stunning U-turn.
The accusations levelled by Minister of Finance Dr Elmi Mohamud Nur against these officials are highly concerning. They could have significant implications for the government’s tax collection if proven true, potentially venturing into uncharted territory.
The Accounting General is accused of disabling the Somalia Financial Management Information System (SFMIS) utilized by the Tax Department and undertaking overseas travel without obtaining proper permission.
In the case of the Director General of Revenue, the decree claims that he openly defied the minister’s orders following the temporary appointment of the Director of Land Taxes. This resulted in adverse effects on the country’s economy. Additionally, the director halted ongoing revenue services, leading to disruptions in the functioning of tax operations.
A stunning U-turn
However, the minister apparently faced mounting pressure in the hours that followed the issuance of decrees, ultimately compelling him to reverse his decisions. As the Somali Digest learned from reliable sources, this pressure originated from the Prime Minister and the President, who forced the minister to backtrack his decision and issue a new one.
The new decree points out that both officials are relatively new in their positions and that the actions in question represent their first mistakes. Taking this into account, the minister has decided to reverse their suspensions.
Ultimately, it is worth noting that this harsh reversal occurred on Friday, a day when government offices are typically closed in Somalia. This underscores the sense of urgency demonstrated by the President and Prime Minister, who intervened to prompt the Minister to reconsider his initial decision.
