By Younis Ahmed, staff writer
Mogadishu, Somalia – The immigration directorate of Somalia has been accused of being involved in a corruption scandal following reports of human trafficking and the sale of diplomatic passports to ordinary citizens.
The allegations came to light after three men were arrested at the Mogadishu airport by police for attempting to travel abroad with illegally obtained diplomatic passports.
According to sources, the three men were found to be in possession of forged diplomatic passports, which they had allegedly purchased from officials within the immigration directorate.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the integrity of Somalia’s immigration system, with many questioning how many more individuals may have obtained diplomatic passports through similar means.
The immigration directorate has come under fire for its handling of passport applications, with reports of widespread corruption and nepotism
Ordinary citizens have reportedly been denied passports, while those with connections to high ranking officials have been able to obtain them easily.
The Somali government has vowed to investigate the matter thoroughly and hold those responsible for the corruption accountable.
However, many Somalis remain skeptical about the government’s ability to root out corruption, given its history of ineffectiveness and weak governance.
The sale of diplomatic passports is not uncommon in many parts of the world, and it is often seen as a way for individuals to gain access to other countries and avoid scrutiny from immigration officials.
However, experts say the practice can also be used to facilitate human trafficking and other criminal activities, making it a serious concern for governments and international organizations.
Somalia has been struggling with political instability, terrorism, and a humanitarian crisis for decades.
Corruption within its government institutions only exacerbates the country’s problems, and it is crucial that the government takes swift action to address the issue and restore public trust in its institutions.
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