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Somalia gets Usd100 million IMF grant

Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud during a meeting with the IMF delegation led by IMF Deputy MD Antoinette M. Sayeh on December 13, 2023. (Office of the Somalia President)

By Gelle Dheere | Wednesday, December 20, 2023

The new arrangement comes as Somalia emerges from the shackles of crippling debt under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, completed on December 13.

Somalia has secured a crucial $100 million lifeline from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to support its post-debt relief economic reform agenda.

The three-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement, approved on December 19th, comes as Somalia emerges from the shackles of crippling debt under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, completed on December 13.

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The IMF stated that reaching the HIPC Completion Point and concluding the 2020 ECF program “testifies to the Somali authorities’ sustained track record of reform implementation over the past years, despite numerous challenges.”

They further elaborated that “through these efforts, Somalia has made considerable progress in strengthening key economic and financial institutions, as well as improving governance.”

This milestone achievement is a testimony to Somalia’s commitment to economic reforms despite facing significant challenges. Over the past years, the country has made strides in strengthening key financial institutions and improving governance. However, the road ahead remains arduous.

The new programme will support the authorities’ post-HIPC reform strategy to further strengthen key economic institutions and promote macroeconomic stability and growth, in line with Somalia’s national development plan and the government’s long-term vision.

Reform implementation will be accompanied by extensive IMF capacity development assistance, supported by the Somalia Country Fund.