Thursday November 18, 2021
MOGADISHU (HOL) - Three donor countries have demanded that Somalia meets two conditions before it releases additional funding for the upcoming Lower House elections.
The UK, US and Norway said in a joint letter addressed to the Federal Government and electoral bodies it will only release the $3.7 million once the conditions are met.
First, elections ‘must be seen to be progressing meaningful and credible way" in at least three states.
The second tranche will be disbursed once at least two-thirds of seats have been filled in all polling stations.
All funds collected from candidates must also be deposited in the Treasury Single Account (TSA) at the Central Bank and mechanisms be put in place to track its use.
The Office of the Prime Minister and the Federal Elections Indirect Team (FEIT) had requested an additional $3.7 million for recurrent expenditure in election management, publicity and voting.
The three countries also demanded that Somalia clarify how it intends to achieve the 30% quota for women in the Lower House.
Should the costs go beyond the budget, Somali government should be ready to bear the costs, the three countries said.
The election costs stand at $27.2 million.