Somalia: Background check for Diaspora government staff

Somali Central Bank Governor Dr Abdisalam Omer

Once again the Somali Federal Government has faced accusations for being a corrupt entity. This time it is the Central Bank where money is withdrawn in ” khaki envelopes” for personal use.
The Central bank governor Dr Abdisalam Omer, an Somali-American economist was described as governor under whose watch the Central Bank of Somalia has become a fair game for embezzlers. Dr Abdisalem was former Chief of Staff in the Executive Office of the Mayor (District of Columbia ). He was investigated for misusing the public resources for private purposes but he resigned before the report had been published in 2002.
Had the Somali government made appropriate backgrounds checks on Diaspora members who would manage a public office, it would not have been blamed for employing staff with dubious past.
What is urgently needed is a thorough check of the backgrounds of potential cabinet members, bank governors, security chiefs , parliament members and judiciary workers from the Diaspora. It would be unwise to appoint a Diaspora member to top government job without background check. There should no excuse for employing someone with criminal convictions or someone who was sacked for office irregularities.
Raxanreeb