The first payment from Norway to Somali government employees was made last week, and more payments can be expected next month.
For more than two decades Somalia has been without any central authority. Conflicts between various groups and the Islamist Al Shabaab has made the country unsafe and in lack of governmental stability. -
The past year, however, the country received a new constitution, and the parliament chose Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as their new president.
In order to get the new government and bureaucracy up and running, Norway has decided to help finance the salaries of 380 public employees. The country has no banking system, and the payments were made through a fund with a bank office abroad.
So far the employees working in Somalia’s Ministry of Finance and the office of the Auditor General have received their salaries through this arrangement but it is expected that payments will also be made to other ministries.
“We expect a stronger financial sector that can control its budget, be open about its projects, as well as strengthen the government’s reputation,” says Norway’s Minister of Development, Heikki Eidsvoll Holmås.
Because Somalia has a history of corruption, the Norwegian government is working with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, who are on the ground in Somalia to help control that the money goes to the right people.
Source: Aftenposten
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