Monday 12, May -2025 {HMC} A high-level meeting between the Federal Government of Somalia and international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), officially opened today in Nairobi, Kenya. The four-day summit is focused on advancing Somalia’s economic reform agenda and exploring investment opportunities in the country’s productive sectors.

Leading Somalia’s delegation is the Minister of Finance, H.E. Biixi Imaan Cige, accompanied by senior representatives from the Offices of the President and Prime Minister, as well as the Ministries of Finance, Planning, Petroleum, the Central Bank, the Financial Reporting Centre, the National Bureau of Statistics, and the Office of the Accountant General.

The talks will assess the progress made since Somalia received multilateral debt relief and will outline a forward-looking strategy for sustainable economic development, including potential funding for key national development projects.

In his opening remarks, Minister Biixi emphasized the government’s strong commitment to fiscal reform and modernization of revenue systems, noting that these efforts are on the right track toward ensuring long-term financial stability and economic self-reliance.

Monday 12, May -2025 {HMC} Heavy downpour Sunday evening left Nairobi streets flooded forcing pedestrians and motorists to wade through fast-moving waters as they hurried home.

The torrents of rain were accompanied with strong winds, making driving for motorists a nightmare.

On Mama Ngina Street, some vehicles stalled in the flood waters.

The situation was replicated in several other streets where motorists remained stranded inside their vehicles.

The adverse weather also forced some businesses to close early, cutting short customers’ shopping spree.

On May 5, the Kenya Meteorological Department issued a weather advisory warning Kenyans to brace for isolated heavy rainfall and temperature extremes in various parts of the country.

In its forecast covering the period from May 6 to 12, 2025, the meteorological department noted that several regions—including the Central Highlands, Lake Victoria Basin, parts of the Rift Valley, Coast, Western, and North-Western Kenya—were likely to receive intermittent, heavy downpours.

“These rains will be scattered but could be intense in isolated areas. We urge Kenyans to plan and stay safe,” the department said in its weekly update.

At the same time, soaring daytime temperatures were expected in much of the Coast, as well as North-Eastern and North-Western Kenya, with highs exceeding 30°C.

On the other end of the spectrum, nighttime temperatures were projected to drop below 10°C in parts of the Central Highlands, the Central Rift Valley, and areas near Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The advisory comes as the country continues to experience the March-April-May long rains season, which has been marked by shifting patterns and uneven rainfall distribution across counties.

Despite the varying conditions across the regions, the Kenya Meteorological Department has emphasised the need for continued weather preparedness.

“We’re still in the long rains season, and weather patterns can shift quickly. Communities should remain alert, especially in areas prone to flash floods or temperature-sensitive livelihoods,” the department said.

As Kenya grapples with unpredictable weather and climate-related challenges, farmers, motorists, and residents in vulnerable areas are being advised to monitor daily forecasts and heed safety guidelines issued by local authorities.

Monday 12, May -2025 {HMC}  The Somaliland Ministry of Agriculture has announced a $100 million agriculture development project to boost food production across the region. The project is being funded and implemented by African Food Security, a US-based company specializing in agricultural development.

The initiative was formally signed by Somaliland President Abdirahman Irro and publicly announced by the Minister of Agriculture Development, Mahmoud Egeh Yusuf, alongside Deputy Minister Mukhtar Haaji Muxumed Farah.

According to a press release from the Ministry, African Food Security highlighted Somaliland’s strategic location, stating the region has potential to become a key exporter of agricultural products to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in the future.

President Irro emphasized that improving agricultural production is a top priority for his administration, especially as food insecurity remains one of the most pressing challenges in Somaliland.

Currently, most food consumed in Somaliland is imported, while local agricultural output remains minimal and insufficient to meet the population’s needs. Officials say limited investment in the sector, severe water shortages, and arid environmental conditions have hindered agricultural development.

The partnership with African Food Security is expected to address some of these barriers and lay the groundwork for long-term food sustainability and economic growth.

Monday 12, May -2025 {HMC} The United Nations is urgently seeking $41.6 million in extra-budgetary funding to support the newly established African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), as Security Council members met Monday for closed consultations on the mission’s financing amid ongoing threats from Al-Shabaab militants and fragile political stability in the country.

The behind-closed-doors meeting, requested by Somalia and the United Kingdom, focused on bridging the critical funding gap for AUSSOM, which replaced the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) on 1 January 2025. Although AUSSOM’s initial annual budget was projected at $190.2 million, a decision to maintain the current troop reimbursement rate of $828 per soldier per month—rather than increase it to $1,000—brought the revised budget down to $166.5 million.

Under a hybrid funding model outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2719, the UN would contribute up to 75% of AUSSOM’s budget through assessed contributions, while the remaining 25%—about $41.6 million—must be raised through extra-budgetary support from the AU and the international community.

So far, just $14.5 million has been secured, including $10 million from the AU Peace Fund and $4.5 million in contributions from Japan and South Korea. This leaves a significant shortfall of $27 million, sparking concerns that delays in securing the funds could jeopardize AUSSOM’s operational readiness and momentum in stabilizing Somalia.

“The funding gap is a serious concern,” said a UN official familiar with the consultations. “Without timely support, the mission risks losing ground at a time when the security environment remains highly volatile.”

Resolution 2767, adopted in December 2024, endorsed the transition from ATMIS to AUSSOM and authorized AU member states to take “all necessary measures” to support the mission for an initial 12-month period. The resolution also made AUSSOM’s access to UN-assessed contributions contingent upon a further Security Council decision, expected by 15 May.

To make the hybrid funding model feasible, the UN undertook an independent strategic review (ISR) of the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS). The review, led by experts Maman Sidikou and Neil Cole, identified $61.6 million in potential cost savings. Further consultations between the UN and AU led to additional cuts of $63.3 million, bringing total planned reductions to $124.9 million.

These reductions came through difficult trade-offs, including maintaining lower troop reimbursement rates, cutting aviation capabilities, excluding death and disability compensation from assessed contributions, and seeking voluntary funding for mine action services.

Despite broad support from many Council members—including the “A3 plus” group (Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Guyana), EU members, China, Russia, and Pakistan—for applying the 2719 framework to AUSSOM, the United States has voiced strong opposition. A recent bill introduced by US senators seeks to prohibit American contributions to AUSSOM under the 2719 framework, arguing that Somalia is not an appropriate setting for such funding and advocating for alternative financing mechanisms.

As Monday’s consultations concluded, Council members remained divided over how best to ensure sustainable funding for AUSSOM. However, Al-Shabaab continuing to threaten regional stability, many in the Council emphasized the urgency of a coordinated and effective funding response.