Garowe, (WDN)— A new corruption scandal has rocked the Puntland administration following explosive allegations made by the Minister of Fisheries, Cabdirisaaq Abdullahi Xagaa, during a parliamentary session on Tuesday. The minister accused the former Director General of the Ministry, Engineer Sharmaarke Beeldaaje, of embezzling large sums of public funds collected from private fishing companies seeking licenses and services.

The funds which was not specified , according to Minister Xagaa, were paid directly to the ministry by businesses in exchange for fishing permits and other government services. However, instead of being deposited into state accounts, the money allegedly disappeared — and the former director, now said to have fled the country, is accused of pocketing it.

“This was money collected in the name of the ministry. It came from citizens and investors who believed they were dealing with a legitimate government process. Yet today, those funds are gone, and the official responsible is out of reach,” said Minister Xagaa in his address to lawmakers.

The accused official, Engineer Sharmaarke Beeldaaje, was previously suspended following internal disputes with the minister, but no formal charges or investigation had been publicly announced until now. Efforts to contact him for comment have so far been unsuccessful.

This revelation is just the latest in a series of reports pointing to systemic corruption and lack of oversight across key Puntland institutions. The fisheries sector, one of the state’s most vital and lucrative industries, has long been plagued by opacity, weak regulation, and favoritism.

The latest allegations are not isolated but indicative of a broader pattern of misuse of public resources — and a culture of impunity that shields corrupt officials from prosecution.

“Embezzlement like this is only possible when checks and balances are either weak or deliberately ignored,” said a political analyst based in Garowe. “The fact that millions can vanish without trace, and without consequences, should alarm every taxpayer in Puntland.”

Many observers point out that the lack of accountability in government institutions has become a serious governance issue. Not only does it discourage foreign investment and donor support, but it also erodes public trust and weakens the legitimacy of state institutions.

Calls are now growing for Puntland’s Auditor General and Anti-Corruption Commission to launch an independent investigation. Civil society groups have also urged President Said Abdullahi Deni’s administration to break its silence and take swift action to hold those responsible accountable.

“The people of Puntland deserve transparency. If the state fails to act on this, it signals that theft of public resources is tolerated — or worse, protected,” said one civil society leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Puntland Parliament has not yet announced whether it will open a formal inquiry, but pressure is mounting. As the scandal continues to unfold, many in Puntland are watching closely to see whether this marks a turning point in the region’s fight against corruption — or just another episode in a deepening crisis of governance.

WardheerNews