Somali federal government and regional states reach interim agreement on resource sharing
Somali federal government and its regional member states have agreed upon on ways of sharing the natural resources on evenhanded distribution that Somalia possesses.
The amicable agreement was reached during the Somali national security meeting in Mogadishu that started from 6th-10th February.
The agreement is made up of 9 articles has solely put the focus on one particular natural resource – the fishing industry.
Article 1 states that the agreement was reached between the federal government and the regional member states including Banadir administration..
Article 2 indicates the general status of issuing license for natural resources of more than 24 nautical miles of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which the federal government has the responsibility through the federal ministry of fishery and marine resources. More than 24 nautical miles will fall the onus of the regional member states. At the same time, the federal ministry will have representative in the state capitals on facilitating sharing information on issuing license in reference to the stipulated norms on giving out one of the Somali fishery regulations. License fee will be based on the applicant’s request type in light of the competiveness of the ports that issue such a document. The cost of the fee will based on the International Standard of Application for Fishing Licenses.
The 3rd article touches on the Somali fishery organization known as Somali Fisheries Authority responsible for safeguarding the country’s fish. This organization will be chaired by the federal fishery minister and its members will be his regional member states counterparts.
The roles and responsibilities of the authority will be fashioned out by the Somali national security body made up of the federal president, the prime minister, the presidents of the regional member states and the Banadir administration.
The 4th article highlighted the depositing and managing the financial income of the fishery and marine resources through a special account that will be opened in the Somali Central Bank.
Article 5 states on financial sharing and objective utilization that will be determined the national security council body including Banadir administration giving priority to security issues and reconstruction.
Article 6 is how to manage the financial income through the bank account in the Somali Central Bank in light of the financial policies of the “Public Financial Management” where withdrawal can be ordered by the Executive at federal and regional levels including Banadir administration through a decree by the office of the prime minister. Accountability and follow up is tasked upon the regional member states.
The 7th article concerns agreement alterations which only be altered though joint exercise by the two parties.
The 8th article set out the existence of the resource agreement starts when the federal government and the regional member states with Banadir administration ink the document on sharing the financial income of the fishery resources.
The 9th article stipulates the implementation of the agreement upon the signing of the different sides of the parties involved.
Early October regional state presidents sought to firm their bargaining power with the Federal Government announcing the formation of council for intergovernmental cooperation (CIC) headed by Puntland president Abdiweli Gaas and deputized by HirShabelle’s Mohamed Waare in Jubbaland capital Kismayu for 4 days pitched for more share from the federal government which they said was marginal despite 90% of the country being under their administration.
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