Somaliland: Parliament Expedite 2013 Budget Approval

[Siciid1986]

By: Yusuf M Hasan

 

HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – The 2013 national budget is now pending approval from the Guurti before implementation.

 

The house of representatives has approved the 2013 annual national budget in its entirety as presented by the minister of Finance Mr. Abdiaziz Samale mid this week.

 

In a sitting chaired by the speaker of parliament's second chamber Hon Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi 'Irro' the members present unanimously approved the $185,714,033.budget without effecting any changes.

 

During the vote for the budget and out of a quorum of 44 members the 2013 annual budget received approval from 35 members and disapproval from 6 while 2 abstained and the chair did not vote.

 

The budget which had to pass muster at the council of ministers before it was forwarded to the House of Representatives is now to be presented to Guurti, the upper chamber of parliament for final approval or rejection.

 

The 2013 budget which is the heftiest since the country reclaimed sovereignty 21 years ago has allocations for novel items included like the cost of security services ranks, health sector, roads and pepping up of the foreign policy.

 

 

On presenting the 2013 budget to the House of Representatives the finance minister justified the figures and allocations as:

 

• The $125,000,000 allocated central government is targeted towards development of various sectors i.e. Livestock, Fisheries, Agriculture, Roads, Airports, Coast guards and fire fighting equipment, Army Rankings, registration of citizens and issuance of identity cards as well as the production of an E-passport.

 

• Central Government $125,000,000

 

• The budget has an emphasis on strengthening national security at all levels of administration as well as creation of employment opportunities with a targeted recruitment of 1,500 civil servants.

 

• Doubling of funds allocated to the three national parties as a means of enhancing the country's democratization process.

 

• The 2013 budget has an increase of 17% over the previous budget of 2012 and 150% more than that of the previous governments

 

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Somaliland only gets 13 million foreign aid?

[Daqane]

That isnt right arent they getting 50m from the E.U this budjet year as well were are the royalties e.t.c of the GENEL turkish oil project?

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Not sure about the genel Turkish oil project but bilateral aid for Somaliland is minimum most aid for Somaliland goes through NGO channels.If Somaliland was recognized it could atleast have a budget of 500 million instead of 185 million. The EU would give Somaliland direct support budget aid not through NGO channels.

[Daqane]

the 50 million is direct budgetary support where is it in the calculations??

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

i dont think so

[Daqane]

Somaliland: EU Approves $64Million Aid Package

 

European Union Delegation currently visiting the country have meet with members of Somaliland cabinet led by the Minister of National Planning Dr. Sacad Ali Shire Today.

 

In meeting which took place today at the Ministry of National Planning in which it was revealed that the European Union had promised they will grant $64 million Somaliland more than to finance the Blighted Education, fisheries, mining, water and Agriculture sectors.

 

During a joint press conference the visiting EU representative and Ambassador D’Urso revealed that this funding shall be submitted directly to the government of Somaliland comes after proposals by the minister National Planning Dr Sacad Ali and minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdilahi Omar.

The development aid package, the largest EU programme ever to be approved for Somaliland, will go towards the consolidation the Education, Fisheries mining, water and agriculture sectors which are vital for the country to progress.

 

Lastly, the National Planning minister on behalf of the people of Somaliland extended his profound appreciations to the EU delegation and Amb. Cervone D’Urso for reinforcing relations between the EU and Somaliland

 

Goth M Goth

 

Somalilandpress.com