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Somaliland Public Finance Laws

Constitution: Articles 54 & 55

The main law & regulations governing public finances are, subject to the  changes brought about by the later constitutional provisions, the the following 1996 laws:

• The Financial & Accounting Procedures of the State - Law No. 90/1996  - English (large pdf file copy)
• Regulations for the Accounts of the State - Law No.86/1996 - English -  (large pdf file copy)
• Presidential Decree 249/1996 keeping the above Law and Regulations in force in Somaliland - Somali       English

 Both the Law and the Regulations are an exact reproduction of the law and regulations with the same name passed in the Somali Republic in 1962, but should of course now be read with the provisions of the Somali Constitution. For an examination of how the budget controversies between the President and the House of Representatives were partly clouded by the interaction between these old laws and the constitution, see  this extract of an article by the Somalilandlaw.com editor. 

 Somaliland National Budget Law:

The Somaliland National Budget Law  (Law no. 44/2010) has been passed by the House of Representatives on 10 May 2010, and as a finance bill will be going to the President for his consideration and signature.  This bill which was initiated by the House has been criticised by government ministers and the President’s action will be keenly awaited by the House.  The President returned the Bill to the House on 1 June 2010, and with the presidential election now taking place on 26 June 2010, the House will  consider its response after the election.

The following other laws from the 1960s were also adopted in 1996 in the same Presidential Decree (249/96 of 15 May 1996) which implemented the above 1961 law and regulations:

1. Customs Law -  No. 91/96
2. Stamp Duty Law  - No. 85/96
3. Investigation and Suppression of Violation of Financial  law -  No. 86/96
4. Stores Regulation – No. 88/96
5. The Body of Laws on Direct Taxation No. 89/96

Other Revenue & public finance laws:

• Ports Taxes Law
• Central Bank Law
• Somaliland Money Law
• Circulation Tax Law No. 82/96
• Sales Tax Law  No. 84/96
• Registration Tax Law No. 83/96
• Office of the Auditor General Law No.   05/1998
• Aviation & Airport Tax Law 10/1999
• Post & Telecommunication Taxes 11/1999
• Local Gov't Unified Tarrifs Law No. 12/1999

The House of Representatives’ Economy & Finance Committee investigated and analysed the first budget   submitted to the newly elected House in 2006. A copy of their study is attached. This is the best oversight report of the budget undertaken by the Committee.  

The following assessments of the last Somaliland budgets were made by, Alla how naxiriste, the late Mr Ali Gulaid CPA (Ali Marshal):

2003 2003 Budget Analysis 2004   2005 Miisaaniyada Sanadka 2005 2006 Miisaaniyada 2006 2008   2009 Naqdiga Miisaaniyada 2009

 2010 Somaliland Budget: The House of Representatives’ Economy Committee has issued their analysis of the late 2010 budget submitted to the House recently and approved on 10 May 2010.