Exporting Corruption: Why Somalia Risks Becoming Pakistan’s Next Agosta Scandal | World News

In the midst of regional turmoil and the ongoing inner fragility of Somalia, Mogadishu signed a new defense agreement with Pakistan on 28 August 2025. The five -year agreement is to strengthen the sea and sea capacity of Somalia. The agreement will see the Somalia officers Pakistan Train Somali officers, to give lessons to fight against terrorism and peace, and at the same time helping to raise old military equipment. In addition, support for the Somalia navy includes working together on the establishment of new units and patrols and anti -piracy efforts. A joint committee will be gathered to review the progress every year, and the agreement can even lead to a wider cooperation with Türkiye in the African Horn.

However, what resembles an increase for Somalia’s weak armed forces comes with risks. Pakistan’s record on defense agreements, the most famous of the 1990s AGOSTA submarine scandal, France, an agreement worth 826 million € from France is overshadowed by the corruption of three submarines. Investigations in France and Pakistan later showed that large amounts were taken as bribes for the authorities and intermediaries. The case has been dragged in the courts for years, caused a political problem, and even claimed that unpaid bribes were attached to the 2002 bombing of French engineers in Karachi.

AGOSTA scandal was not an isolated event. Pakistan’s defense agreements have been criticized for a long time. The auditors marked problems such as money paid before the competition and the equipment were delivered. Even new projects, such as Chinese Hangor Class submarines, faced little clarity on delays, technical problems and costs. Questions about money and surveillance continue to focus on Pakistan’s maritime modernization.

Pakistan’s history should worry Somalia. It is known that the defense institutions of the country are weak. The external supervision or parliament supervision of military expenditures is very little or no. A serious issue as much as defense supply is usually handled. In addition, there is almost no mechanism to prevent conflicts of interest or to provide open competition. Most importantly, he encouraged an addiction to external partners and donors that leaving the gaps in accountability and gaps. Even if Somalia’s long experience with arms embargoes has normalized the special exemptions that can be easily exploited by giving a direct role in Somalia education, sea assistance and equipment raising to Islamabad, but only imports technical expertise, but also imports the culture of corruption that wears Pakistan’s own freight.

If shaded intermediaries and confidential agreements take over this agreement, Somalia may pay too much, lose money and weaken public confidence. Foreign donors who have already kept the budget and security of Somalia can take a step back if they see that the funds are wasted at a time when the economy is already fragile. Worse, corruption scandals can withdraw the fragile legitimacy of the Somalia state and weaken the operational efficiency of the armed forces, and leave the ships are not continuous and equipped despite large expenditures on paper.

The defense agreement with Pakistan for Somalia is therefore a sharp sword. Sea security offers the chance to create a capacity of anti -piracy and terrorism, but it opens the door of Pakistan’s military supply for decades that have stained for decades. Unless Mogadishu insists on transparency, strict surveillance and accounting financial procedures, this cooperation has less way for stability and the risk of recurrence of the scandal to the agosta – this time in the waters of the African Horn.