Azim Hussein
Favoritism in public procurement threatens transparency, drains taxpayer resources, and delays regional progress.
A Disturbing Pattern in Contract Awards
In Ethiopia’s Somali Region, public frustration is mounting amid widespread perceptions that government contracts are no longer awarded based on merit. Increasingly, state institutions appear to favor specific companies regardless of performance history or technical capacity, a troubling trend that is eroding public trust and hindering vital development efforts.
A prominent example is Maakib Construction, a firm that has secured an unusually large number of public contracts over the past seven years. Despite receiving multiple high-value projects each worth at least 150 million birr Maakib has repeatedly failed to meet basic quality and completion standards. Many of its projects remain either substandard or unfinished, raising serious concerns about the criteria used to award these contracts.
Public Funds at Risk
The persistent selection of underperforming contractors raises urgent questions:
What benchmarks are being used to evaluate bids? Are performance reviews being ignored? Why are companies with poor records repeatedly entrusted with public infrastructure?
Each failed or delayed initiative not only squanders public resources it also denies communities access to essential services. Roads, schools, hospitals, and water systems remain incomplete or dysfunctional, even as billions of birr are disbursed. This goes beyond mismanagement; it is an active barrier to progress and equity in the region.
Demand for Accountability and Reform
The current state of public contracting in the Somali Region demands immediate reform. The regional government alongside federal authorities and independent anti-corruption bodies must launch a transparent and thorough investigation into procurement practices in recent years.
To restore accountability and ensure that public resources are effectively utilized, the following steps must be implemented:
• Transparent Tendering Processes: All public tenders and contract awards should be made publicly accessible and subject to independent oversight.
• Merit-Based Evaluation: Contractors must be selected based on proven technical capability, performance history, and cost-effectiveness.
• Enforcement of Sanctions: Companies that fail to deliver should face clear penalties, including suspension from future bids.
• Community Oversight: Local communities and civil society organizations must be empowered to monitor and report on ongoing public projects.
The Path Forward
Without transparency and accountability in public procurement, development in the Somali Region will remain compromised by inefficiency and favoritism. Taxpayer money must serve the public good not private interests.
The Somali Region deserves better. Restoring trust requires decisive action not empty promises.
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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