Finland’s Aid Principles and Misuse Concerns in Somalia Training Workshop

In DHUSAMAREB, Somalia, Finland has reiterated its commitment to humanitarian assistance as a key aspect of its development policy, emphasizing the importance of non-discrimination, equality, and the needs of people with disabilities. The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs advocates for transparency in development cooperation to prevent the misuse of funds. However, a recent incident involving the Finnish media organization Vikes in central Somalia has sparked controversy over the misuse of development funds. Vikes, tasked with training Somali journalists on “Sexual Harassment Prevention,” is accused of misappropriating funds for a workshop that was allegedly turned into a family gathering by its Coordinator for Somalia, Wali Hashi.
Critics claim that Hashi invited his relatives to the workshop, sidelining the intended beneficiaries and objectives. Despite the organization’s aim to empower media managers and address workplace violence against women, local reports suggest that the workshop attendees were primarily Hashi’s relatives and not journalists. Furthermore, Hashi and his relatives reportedly vacationed in Mirrig, a clan stronghold, shortly after the training, raising further concerns about the allocation of the funds.
The incident has highlighted issues of nepotism and mismanagement within development projects, casting doubt on the principles of non-discrimination and equality that Vikes claims to uphold. Local journalists and civil society observers have called for accountability and an investigation into Vikes and Hashi’s conduct, stressing the need for transparency and the proper use of aid to ensure it reaches its intended targets and fulfills its goals.