Jigjiga (Dawan Africa) – The Somali Regional State (DDS) Parliament has approved a budget of 65.7 billion Ethiopian birr (approximately $1.15 billion USD) for the 2018 Ethiopian fiscal year (2025/2026) on Monday, 28 July 2025, marking a significant 62% increase over last year’s budget.
The budget proposal was presented by the Somali Regional State Bureau of Finance, which outlined key spending priorities aimed at strengthening governance, improving service delivery, and advancing regional development. The Finance Bureau confirmed that the funding structure will consist of 50% from the region’s internal revenue sources, including tax and non-tax income, and 50% from the federal government and international donor contributions.
The approved budget will allocate 36.9 billion birr (approximately $645 million USD) for regional-level government offices, 1.4 billion birr (approximately $24.5 million USD) for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)-linked projects, and 27.4 billion birr (approximately $480 million USD) for districts, municipalities, and local governments.
The budget was passed following a session of extensive debate, technical analysis, and questioning by members of parliament. Lawmakers also ratified a supplementary budget that had been utilized during the final months of the outgoing fiscal year.
Speaking on X (formerly Twitter), President Mustafe Mohamed Omer said: “An ambitious budget of 65.7 billion Birr is allocated to different sectors, with particular attention given this year to improving the quality of education and strengthening the justice sector.”
Officials say the increased budget is aimed at improving infrastructure, decentralizing services, and advancing social development—key priorities in the region’s development agenda.
