Int'l community confirms funds support for Somali Election 2016

MUQDISHU, Somalia- The International community said on Friday it will be providing approximately 60 per cent of the required budget to fund the forthcoming Somali election due to be held in October 30, 2016.

In a joint press release, International partners – including the European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States said the remaining election's funds will be generated through candidate registration fees and resources from the Federal Budget.

International partners have committed funding, administered through mechanisms set up under the auspices of the United Nations, to ensure the electoral process can be implemented without additional delays and that a mechanism for timely disbursement is in place.

Somalia’s international partners reiterate their support for the electoral process and stress the need for its implementation in a fair and timely manner.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia Michael Keating stated that Somalia is approaching a critical time as parliamentary and presidential elections is near, "This is an exciting and very significant moment for Somalia. The full rules of the game must now be confirmed by the NLF, and the goalposts must not be shifted.”

GAROWEONLINE