By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Mogadishu, September 10, 2026 – Somalia’s Finance Minister Bihi Iman Egeh said reductions in some international aid have affected social services and the country’s economy, while the government has taken over security costs that were previously covered by foreign countries and organisations.
Egeh, speaking in an interview with Miizaan Podcast, broadcast by Dawan Tv on Wednesday, said Somalia has long been among the countries that rely heavily on international assistance, which includes humanitarian aid, disaster response, development projects and security support.
He said assistance provided to Somalia is managed through two main channels: funding that goes directly to the government and forms part of the national budget, and off-treasury assistance managed by international organisations, non-governmental organisations or donor countries.
The minister cited the closure of USAID as an example, saying it had a significant impact on many developing countries. Somalia, he said, is particularly vulnerable to such changes because it is a country recovering from conflict and economic challenges.
Egeh estimated that foreign assistance flowing into Somalia is equivalent to about 20% to 22% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), underscoring the scale of its role in the economy.
He said a study conducted by the Ministry of Finance found that most of the aid reductions affected funding that did not pass through the government treasury and was instead managed by international organisations and NGOs.
The minister said an estimated $450 million to $600 million in aid had been reduced or halted. He said most of that funding was not part of projects directly managed by the Somali government or included in the national budget.
Education, health and other social services were among the areas affected or potentially affected by the changes in international assistance, he said.
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On security, Egeh said the Somali government had taken over some costs for security forces that were previously paid directly by donor countries.
He specifically cited the Danab special forces, saying their salaries, food, operations and other logistical expenses had been incorporated into the national budget.
“Whether it is the salaries of the Danab forces, their operations, food or logistics, the government has taken over all of it and pays for it through the national budget,” Egeh said.
He said the government views the assumption of those costs as an indication of the ability of Somali institutions to take on responsibilities that were previously supported from abroad.
Egeh said the government’s takeover of Danab’s costs had not resulted in salary reductions or delays in payments. According to the minister, the forces receive their salaries between the 25th and 26th of each month.
The minister also said the government had previously taken over the costs of forces trained and funded by the United Arab Emirates. He estimated the force at nearly 10,000 personnel and said their salaries are now paid through the government budget.
Egeh said that despite increases in salary and security expenditures, the government has continued to cover those costs using domestic revenue.
The minister’s comments come as changes in international assistance put pressure on programmes and services in Somalia that have long relied on funding from international donors.