Thursday January 23, 2025

Hargeisa (HOL) – The breakaway region of Somaliland has
announced a 50% salary increase for its armed forces, fulfilling part of
President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro’s campaign pledge to boost army pay. 

According to a presidential decree on Wednesday, the salary
increase will be implemented in the 2025 fiscal year, marking the first of
several annual increments promised by President Irro during his campaign. He
had pledged to raise army salaries by 250% during his first term in office. 

“I have issued a decree that the permanent salaries of the
various national forces will be increased by 50% in each fiscal year during the
first term of the government, based on the permanent salaries of the fiscal
year 2024,” President Irro stated. 

The decree also mandated the implementation of an IRIS
Biometric Registration System for all Somaliland armed forces. The registration
process is set to begin on February 1, 2025, and must be completed within 30
days. 

The salary increases will take effect once the biometric
registration and census of the armed forces are finalized, according to the
decree.

President Irro further pledged to improve the
professionalism and capability of Somaliland’s military. His government plans
to provide enhanced training and modern equipment to the forces to strength national
security.