How to Spend a National Budget of $30 Million

I am told that last year that the 'Somaliland government' (we have to remember that this is not an internationally recognised state)  had a  budget of  just $30 million to play with.  More than half of this I understand would have been spent on defence and security...when you are a breakaway republic your borders need defending!

That leaves no more than $15 million for health, education, and justice...not to mention agriculture, immigration and social security...if only. No international recognition means no direct foreign budgetary assistance...quite literally zero dollars, neither direct contributions to a government pot, nor ringfenced to specific programmes. Some money does make its way through UN programmes and international aid agencies, but the numbers are miniscule relatively speaking. The frustration of Somalianders'  is understandable when you consider the money being paid to warlords in neighbouring Mogadishu - see this article written by Rob Crilly of The Times of London.

Just in case $30 million sounds a decent chunk of money, here's how far it goes elsewhere...

Saddam's Yacht - the decor aboard this floating palace - originally called Qadissivat Saddam - includes Arab the decor aboard the floating palace -originally called Qadissivat Saddam - include Arabesque  arches, dark wood carvings, deep pile carpets and loose rugs woven in Islam's holiest cities.

Carlton House, London. Price: £17 million - This new, 15,000-square-foot house on a half-acre features a 50-foot long ballroom, catering kitchen fitted out for banquets, has nine bedroom suites, all with Italian marble bathrooms. The leisure complex has a heated mosaic swimming pool, sauna, gym and a 12-person Turkish bath, and, like Thunderbirds, there is a vehicle lift that takes your car from the forecourt into the four-vehicle garage below.

And should you ever forget your swim-wear on holiday, how about this for value for money! The bikini, contains over 150 carats of flawless diamonds, some of which are the rarest in the world including a 51-carat, pear-shaped diamond, a 30-carat emerald cut, a pair of 15 carat rounds  and a pair of eight carat pear shaped stones. The stones are sent in platinum for one valuable and very tiny bikini.

To prove it is the real deal, you can see it being modeled at http://www.luxist.com/2006/02/15/the-30-million-diamond-bikini/

Comments

[Yusuf Dahir]

Richard That was wonderful, once again i appreciated your wonderful reports of Somaliland the facts and the details that comes with, Somaliland have learned how to survive with a tiny budget like that, yes of course we have to defend our borders from the hell flames coming through our neighboring Somalia including the little evils THE PIRATES of the red and Indian Ocean, Puntland.and yet we are happy and minding our businesses.We are the little country that can do it. God Bless Somaliland. Thanks Richard.

[Rooble]

Thanks a lot Richard for the analysis. I'm glad there are intellectuals like you who can understand the situation that Somaliland faces.

Yes Somaliland is very smart to manage such small budget to run a whole country.

[Richard Lough]

Rooble, thanks for your comment. My point is more that without international recognition the budget and levels of aid are pitiful. I'm not sure I would agree that what there is is spent well. It is apparent corruption within government ministries is rife. There are simply no acountability systems. Secondly, on a short trip 40 km outside of hargeisa I only saw two schools, both funded by international aid agencies. The health clinic we passed had no medicine. So you have to question the extent to which the government is able to "run the country". But with just $30 million in government coffers, peace alone is an impressive feat.