Somalia to receive $3.2 million funding for election with tough conditions

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The federal republic of Somalia will receive condition-based funding of $3.7 million following a request by Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, who has technically been in charge of the electioneering exercise throughout this period.

In a document seen exclusively the Garowe Online, the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, and Norway pledged to fund the country to complete the electioneering exercise, which has taken months before being completed.

The three governments, in a letter copied to PM Roble, all Federal States [FMS], and the elections team, the three governments said the funding will be done through the United Nations Integrated Electoral Support Group.

"Regarding your requests for additional funding, the governments of Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States can confirm collectively that we are able to provide the requested additional $3.7 million," reads the letter. "We will do this through UN Integrated Electoral Support Group."

Initially, the country was allocated $27.2 million for elections, which the Office of the Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble noted could not successfully help in logistics for both Upper House and House of People elections.

However, the three governments raised concerns about the delayed elections, noting that for the funding to be done, certain conditions ought to be made. This, they added, will enable the country to immediately sort out the delays besides boosting transparency.

"However, we remain concerned about the affordability and credibility or timeliness of the significantly delayed electoral process. Our funding will be made available into two trenches once certain conditions are achieved," they added.

On conditions, the three governments said the first funding once elections have been held in at least three states. The second funding, they added, allocation will be made once at least two-thirds of the seats have been filled.

Further, the three governments said the country ought to ensure that the 30 percent quota of women's representation in parliament is achieved. There are 275 seats in the Lower House which are set to be filled in the coming House of People elections.

Already, the country started the Lower House polls but only two MPs were picked from Somaliland. Each state has 101 delegates who will participate in the elections of MPs, who will later combine with Senators in electing the president of the federal republic of Somalia.

Somalia started elections in July this year following the May 27 agreement. The three governments hailed the country for successful completion of the Upper House polls, which saw 54 senators elected across the country.

GAROWE ONLINE