MOGADISHU (SD) – Somalia has been announced one of top three defaulters at the UN following failure to meet its annual financial obligations to the global body. 

Others are Iran with a debt of $18 million and Venezuela which leads the pack with a debt of $39 million.

In a UN Secretary General’s report to the member states on January 12, UN confirmed that Somalia will not be stripped of voting rights at the Un General Assembly despite failing to meet its financial obligations to the global body.

Somalia, alongside Sao Tome and Principe and Comoros will still retain their voting rights until the end of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly which lapses in December.

According to the report, Somalia is among 11 countries that have failed to submit their annual fees to the UN.

Somalia owes the UN $1.4 million making it ineligible to vote at the UN General Assembly in line with Article 19 of the UN Charter.

The article however exempts countries whose capacity to meet their financial obligations is insufficient owing to economic challenges.