MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has ignited a storm of public criticism after stating he has “no problem with kickbacks, as long as the work gets done,” a remark widely condemned as a tacit endorsement of corruption in a country already struggling with endemic graft.
The president made the controversial statement on Tuesday during the inauguration of a new building for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, a project spearheaded by Minister Mokhtar Robow, a former top Al-Shabaab commander. Robow reportedly financed the construction using funds saved from annual Hajj pilgrimages — monies that in previous administrations had allegedly been siphoned off through corrupt practices.
In a speech aimed at encouraging ministers to deliver on their mandates, President Mohamud said he does not have a problem even if they take some money in the pockets for service charges. The comments were met with swift and fierce backlash from civil society and governance experts, who viewed the statement as a normalization of bribery under the guise of performance incentives.
“Let that sink in. This wasn’t a gaffe. It was a statement of principle; on record,” said Samira Gaid, a prominent Somali political and security analyst.
“But public office is not a transactional space where corruption is tolerable if it delivers results. It is an amana — a sacred trust. When the highest office in the land legitimizes kickbacks, even conditionally, what do we expect of other institutions?”
Gaid also praised Minister Robow, noting his unique standing within the government.
“Robow, still widely regarded as an island of integrity in a sea of corruption, [is] one of the few officials perceived as genuinely committed to public service,” she said.
This is not the first time President Mohamud has faced criticism for remarks perceived to legitimize questionable governance practices. In past comments, he has defended the appointment of family members and close associates to public offices, stating that officials “have right to hire their family members and children.” On another occasion, he dismissed scrutiny of his personal wealth, saying the Somali public does not have to do anything with his wealth and properties, fueling perceptions that he views himself as beyond accountability.
The president’s latest comments strike at the heart of Somalia’s ongoing struggle to establish transparent institutions and a government free from the shadow of mismanagement and self-dealing. Critics warn that public trust, already eroded by years of entrenched corruption, risks further collapse if such attitudes remain unchallenged at the highest levels of power.
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