AU: Somalia can handle more funds directly

[xiinfaniin]

Africa

 

Somalia can handle more funds directly: AU

25 Feb 25, 2010 - 9:05:28 AM

 

 

By Abdiaziz Hassan

 

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Somalia has made progress restoring state institutions and accountability and its administration can now handle more funds directly, the African Union's deputy head of mission to Somalia said.

 

For nearly two decades, the Horn of Africa nation has had no functional central government and its transitional administration controls only sections of the capital Mogadishu.

 

Wafula Wamunyinyi, the deputy special representative for the AU Commission for Somalia, said the government received inadequate direct funding, and that there were still some impediments to them getting more aid.

 

"They were working hard in re-establishing state institutions, coordination and implementation of the plans; they are making progress ... and taking care of the accountability system," he told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.

 

"They are now making progress, working some specific budgets for the first time, and that kind of thing shows there is a direction ... Then, donors will release the funds to them eventually."

 

Wamunyinyi said the mission had received more than half the $213 million donors have pledged to help restore Somalia's security and public services.

 

International donors agreed last April to provide the money to help Somalia's transitional government and the 5,000 AU troops providing security to the government.

 

"I think over $120 million ... has been directed to trust funds, and some progress has been made on that," Wamunyinyi said, speaking in his office in the Kenyan capital.

 

"The pledges have been flowing until now, I am sure we have received most of the funds."

 

Rebels fighting the transitional government frequently attack the AU troops, who have been able to do little more than protect the city's air and sea ports, its presidential palace and a few strategic blocks in between.

 

Wamunyinyi said more troops from Uganda and Burundi were waiting to be airlifted to bolster their numbers.

 

"These two countries will send an additional battalion each. As soon as the logistical arrangements are done, they will move in," he said.

 

He said the AU's rules of engagement were adequate, and the mission could help the government hold the capital if it decided to push away the rebels.

 

"We are not there to fight on behalf of Somalis. If they keep away the insurgents, that would be very good idea, a good step in the right direction."

 

Source: Reuters

[xiinfaniin]

More direct funds is what Somalia needs

[Saalax]

What is the point most of those funds will go to Amisom which in turn will use that money to kill and shell more civilians.

[Member-sol-]

pouring outside money into the pockets of one of the groups vying for power, is pouring a gasoline into a blazing fire.

[General Duke]

Can they even hold that mush money in 2KM area?

[Johnny B]

Originally posted by Member-sol-:

pouring outside money into the pockets of one of the groups vying for power, is pouring a gasoline into a blazing fire.

There are no groups in Somalia .

There is an Islamic Government and Terrorists.

 

Well Done to AU and the International Community for standing by the Somali people.

[Castro]

Originally posted by Johnny B:

There are no groups in Somalia . There is an Islamic Government and Terrorists.

Classic.

[xiinfaniin]

Somalidu wax walba waa ka murmayyaan

[Haatu]

This is great news. Member-SOL, get the facts right, there'a a government and some rebels facing them. Ofcourse the government needs more funds. How can you expect peace without money?

[Jacaylbaro]

and how can a gov without banks, banking system, proper administration and so on manage such funds ??? ,,,

 

I know it is good for the "government" but is it coming in handbags and handed over to hebel and hebel ??? ,,