Somalia: Cabinet approved $206 million budget amid ongoing elections

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The cabinet of the federal government of Somalia under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has approved a budget to cater for expenses of the country in the next three months amid ongoing elections in the country.

The $206 million provisional budget is meant to keep that government running in the absence of parliament which was expected to okay the national budget. The country has until March 15th to complete elections of the Lower House elections.

But despite the timelines, over 50 seats are yet to be filled following the standoff both in Beledweyne and Gedo where officials are yet to agree on the mode of election. In Gedo, local authorities are accusing the federal government of plotting to rig the outcome.

The budget is set to support government expenditure between April and June, the government said, adding that the move was occasioned by lack of consensus on matters elections which could paralyze government operations across the country.

"Somali Cabinet of Ministers endorsed on Sunday $ 206,474,223, provisional budget for Government institutions from April to June 2022," state media reported, with the country now risking delay of IMF disbursement.

Somalia has been entirely depending on well-wishers from the United States, United Nations, European Union, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund [IMF] for funding of various government institutions. However, IMF warned that it could reduce funding due to delays in the electoral exercise.

The Somali National Army [SNA] was one of the institutions which could suffer total paralysis should the government fail to conclude elections. So far, only 222 seats of the 275 Lower House members have been filled in the Horn of Africa nation.

Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has been at loggerheads with outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo over elections in the country.

GAROWE ONLINE