Somalia will be allowed to retain its vote at the UN’s 77th annual session even though it is in arrears for its UN membership dues for at least two years.
Somalia owes at least $1,413,609 in UN member dues.
The decision was made after a resolution was adopted by the UN General Assembly that granted Somalia and two other African countries an exception.
Comoros and Sao Tome and Principe were also allowed to vote despite being in the red.
Venezuela is the only country in arrears that was not permitted to vote in the Assembly until the end of its 77th session.
A Member State in arrears to pay its dues in an amount equaling or exceeding the contributions due for the two preceding years may lose its vote in the General Assembly under Article 19 of the United Nations Charter.
The world body grants exceptions case-by-case exceptions if the country can demonstrate that circumstances beyond its control contributed to its inability to pay.
The same exception was granted to Somalia, Comoros, and Sao Tome and Principe in June 2021.
