January 4, 2025
As 2025 comes to a close, the Transparency Somalia Initiative (TSI) is proud to release its definitive evaluation of our nation’s journey toward integrity. This year marked a major turning point for governance in Somalia, but while we have built the technical tools for transparency, the “accountability engine” remains weak.
The 2025 Accountability Paradox
Our findings reveal a startling gap between the detection of corruption and actual legal consequences:
- Audit Record: The Office of the Auditor General (OAGS) published a historic 38 specialized reports this year.
- The Gap: Despite this visibility, less than 5% of flagged irregularities led to formal legal proceedings.
- The Oversight Vacuum: The Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (IACC) remained inactive throughout 2025, leaving critical “watchdog” functions solely to the executive branch.
Key Highlights
- International Discrepancies: A landmark audit of the $153M Baxnaano program exposed a critical reconciliation gap between international aid data and state records.
- Digital Integrity: While the National ID system began exposing “hidden ownership” in public contracts, Somalia still lacks a public Beneficial Ownership Registry.
- Strategic Indicators: While Regional Integration is high, our CPI Score remains critical at 9/100, and Civic Space for journalists is restricted.
TSI Priority Recommendations for 2026
To ensure 2026 is the year of enforcement, TSI calls for the immediate re-appointment of the IACC, the enactment of a Right to Information (RTI) Act, and the creation of specialized Anti-Corruption Chambers within our court system.
“Transparency without consequence is just documentation. Our mission is to ensure that the light shed on corruption leads to the justice it deserves.”
📥 [Download the Executive Summary: State of Transparency Somalia 2025: Executive Summary & Key Findings