“Corruption has marred every aspect of Somali society,” says Afyare Abdi Elmi, a professor of International Affairs. It is, he says, the most corrupt country in the world. “Business warlords have adjusted to the climate of lawlessness — avoiding taxes, selling expired food and drugs, sustaining anti-state forces and commercialising so as to profit from areas that were traditionally in the public sector. In many parts of the country inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations have become de facto governments without any accountability. These organisations provide the little education and health care the Somali people receive. Ironically, even the UN prefers to fund NGOs rather than local and national government institutions.”