Parliament Reviews Somalia’s 2025 Budget Accounts, Questions Finance Minister

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia’s parliamentary finance committees have questioned Finance Minister Bihi Imaan Ige over the management of public revenue and government spending as lawmakers review the federal government’s 2025 budget accounts.

The joint session brought together members of the finance committees of both houses of parliament, the minister, the Accountant General and other officials from the Finance Ministry to examine the budget execution report and address issues raised during the review.

Lawmakers focused on revenue collected outside the approved national budget, additional expenditure by government institutions, and income generated by Aden Adde International Airport and Mogadishu seaport.

They also sought explanations on the management of foreign grants and other financial matters relating to the 2025 budget. The minister and accompanying officials responded to the questions raised by committee members.

The meeting was jointly chaired by Senator Abdi Ahmed Dhuhulow Dhegdheer, chairman of the Upper House Finance Committee, and MP Abdi Ibrahim Warsame Qowdhan, who heads the House of the People Finance Committee.

The parliamentary scrutiny followed a detailed review of the 2025 budget accounts and the audit report prepared by the Office of the Auditor General.

The committees said their examination was being conducted under Article 45 of Somalia’s Public Financial Management Law No. 2019, which provides for parliamentary oversight of public financial management and government accounts.

The review is part of parliament’s oversight responsibility to examine how public funds were collected, allocated and spent during the financial year.