## Interview with Somalia Finance Minister Abdirahman Dualeh Beileh — In the Trenches

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Interview with Somalia Finance Minister Abdirahman Dualeh Beileh — In the Trenches](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2020/march/interview-with-somalia-finance-minister-abdirahman-dualeh-beileh-trenches.pdf)

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### Background and recent history
- Somalia had no recognized government for 20 years, resulting in a total lack of institutions, a total suspension of law and order, and a reversion to clan-based local governance.
- Turning point: 2012 — the first government elected in a manner resembling normalcy and recognized by the international community.
- Abdirahman Dualeh Beileh returned to Somalia in 2014 and served as minister of foreign affairs before being named finance minister in 2017.
- Government rebuilding progress:
  - Functioning government institutions reestablished.
  - Bills governing finances, taxes, and customs agreed upon; some harmonized, others under work with IMF and international partners.

### Security and nation-building
- Security remains a problem with some terrorist elements, but overall rules guide the economy nationwide.
- Stated common agenda: one nation, one economy, and one budget — not yet fully achieved but work in progress with international assistance.

### Fiscal priorities and debt
- Total estimated external debt: $5.3 billion.
- Past lack of access to international financial resources stemmed from arrears; in arrears, Somalia could not access international financial institutions or concessionary/grant resources.
- Strategy: clear arrears through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative to obtain debt relief and then access grant resources from the IMF, the World Bank, the AfDB, and other institutions.
- Intended use of concessional and grant resources: rebuilding the country to generate more jobs.

### Labor market and demographics
- Somalia is a youthful country: young people make up 70 percent of the population.
- Current challenge: very few jobs for youth; creating more job opportunities is a top priority.

### Diaspora role
- The global Somali diaspora is described as a blessing, contributing businesses, skills, and remittances to Mogadishu.
- Remittance impact: "I would say 80 to 90 percent of Somali families were fed during our period of difficulty thanks to the diaspora community."

### Five-year scenario and development vision
- If the current trajectory holds, Somalia can be a middle-income country within five years.
- Five-year goals:
  - A self-sufficient government that does not rely on handouts.
  - Government budget funded by internal resources.
  - Continued need for investment to rebuild totally destroyed infrastructure.

### Governance, trust, and culture
- Rebuilding trust requires restoring institutions, records, and history of governance.
- Progress has included agreeing on fiscal legislation and working with international partners to harmonize rules.
- Art and culture:
  - Culture, poetry, and songwriting have been unifying forces and means of expression when other institutions were lost.
  - Minister Beileh views cultural expression as important for national resilience and identity.

*Interview edited for length and clarity.*

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2020/march/interview-with-somalia-finance-minister-abdirahman-dualeh-beileh-trenches.pdf_