Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald)
Urgent Call for Investigation into Corruption and Mismanagement by Maakib Construction in Somali Region Public Infrastructure Projects.
Written by Conttributor of Tigray Herald.
I am writing to bring to your urgent attention credible and deeply troubling concerns regarding Maakib Construction Company, a firm reportedly owned by an individual from the God-God district in Ethiopia’s Somali Region.
Under the current regional administration, Maakib has been awarded at least fifteen publicly funded infrastructure contracts many involving critical services for some of the region’s most underserved communities. Yet, there is mounting evidence that not a single one of these projects has been successfully or transparently completed.
This alarming pattern not only raises grave doubts about Maakib’s technical
capacity but also exposes potential systemic corruption in the region’s public
procurement processes. The lack of meaningful oversight and enforcement
from regulatory bodies has allowed mismanagement to flourish at the direct
expense of vulnerable populations.
A case in point is the highly publicized 150 million birr water supply project in
the God-God district. Despite official claims that the project is complete and
fully functional, firsthand investigations and testimony from local residents
reveal that the wells drilled have never produced potable water.
In an area where safe water access is a matter of survival, this failure represents more than a technical shortfall it is a gross misuse of public funds and a fundamental breach of public trust. Disturbingly, this pattern appears to be repeating itself.
Maakib Construction has now been contracted for another major water infrastructure project in the Barey district. Initial field observations suggest similar signs of negligence and mismanagement. Even more concerning are credible reports that pipes and materials initially procured for the God-God project using public funds are now
being repurposed for the Barey site.
If verified, this would constitute clear
evidence of resource misallocation, misrepresentation of project outcomes,
and potentially criminal misconduct.
Maakib’s track record includes other high-profile failures. One such case is the
Wardheer Hospital project, awarded in 2019, which remains mired in corruption
allegations. Another is the 28-kilometer road intended to connect the village of Barmiil to the Dhuhun district in the Nogob Zone a project which, by multiple accounts, has suffered from both technical failings and financial irregularities.
These cases reflect not only the failings of a single contractor but broader systemic issues in regional governance, procurement transparency, and institutional accountability. The consequences are dire: wasted public resources, deteriorating infrastructure, and communities left without the basic services they were promised.
Given the scale of public investment involved and the life-and-death importance
of some of these projects, particularly water infrastructure I urge your office and the wider media community to initiate and support an immediate and comprehensive investigation.
Specifically, I call for the following actions:
- A full audit of all public contracts awarded to Maakib Construction since the start of the current regional administration.
- Independent, on-site technical evaluations of the God-God and Barey district projects to determine compliance with engineering and
contractual standards. - An investigation into the diversion of materials between project sites, with clear findings on whether criminal charges or administrative sanctions are warranted.
- A moratorium on any further public contract awards to Maakib Construction pending the outcome of these investigations.
These measures are essential not only for financial accountability but also to restore faith in public institutions and uphold the rights and dignity of communities long neglected by failed infrastructure and failed governance.
I am prepared to assist in this process and can connect you with local sources, technical experts, and affected community members who are ready to provide documentation and witness testimony.
The people of the Somali Region deserve transparency, accountability, and above all,justice.
