Somaliland: President Bihi Reveals Government Was Bankrolling Twin Election Bill

His Excellency the President of the Republic of Somaliland, Musa Bihi Abdi, Monday, disclosed that the government of Somaliland was footing the whole 2021 twin election bill.

Addressing the governors and the mayors of the nation, today, at a consultative meeting he called, he told them that no external funds were to be used to conduct the upcoming municipal and parliamentary elections.

The whole amount, he said, was coming from the national budget for the fiscal year of 2021.

"It is the first time in our history that we have asked the world to stand aside. We are solely using our assets to finance the upcoming twinned elections without external support," he said.

"As such," he added, "it is up to us to ensure that we can stand alone but that, also, we can make a resounding success of the elections".

He urged the governors and the mayors - almost all of the latter were also running for re-elections - to see to it that protection of national image prevailed in all eventualities regardless.

"Governors represent the central government in the regions. Make sure that elections are conducted in accordance with the National Electoral Commission regulations and directives," he told them.

The government of Somaliland has earmarked SlShs 28.8 billion (US$ 4.1 million) for the elections this year.

Somaliland has conducted a number of 1P-1V elections and poll exercise since the referendum vote for the constitution of May 2001.

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