Somalia’s Parliament Debates Additional Funding for Government

The Lower House of Somalia’s parliament will today debate the fate of the National Independent Elections Commission (NIEC) and additional funding requested by the government for security forces. 

The debate is to hold as the terms of the officials of the National Independent Elections Commission (NIEC) in office approaches expiration.

The chairman of the elections commission, Halima Isma’il Ibrahin, is expected to make an appearance in parliament, and the MPs are expected to grill her on the way forward as the term of the electoral body nears an end. 

The commission took up the mandate in July 2015 becoming the first electoral body in the country following four decades without national polls. The commission’s mandate states that it is responsible for managing all future elections in a non-renewable one term of six years.

However, as one year is still left of the term of the commission, it is not clear why some MPs insist on discussing the fate of the commission this early. 

Another agenda for the House today is the review of the national budget for the fiscal year 2020. The national budget is subject to a tense debate as some members of parliament argue that it does not contain provisions for this year’s election. 

The interim minister of finance Abdirahman Beile submitted the review to the House of People requesting more funds for the national forces after some partners withdrew support. However, some vocal MPs are demanding the inclusion of a budget for the election if they were to approve the additional funding requested by the government.