By Goth Mohamed Goth
HARGEISA – The Republic of Somaliland’s Ministry of Finance has postponed the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) until August 1, 2026, following extensive consultations with business leaders over concerns about the tax’s implementation and technical readiness.
The decision came after a marathon meeting between finance officials and representatives of the Somaliland business community. The GST had been scheduled to take effect on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
Minister of Finance Abdullahi Hassan said the delay was prompted by the spread of inaccurate information in the market that contradicted the agreement previously reached between the government and business representatives.
“After reviewing the recommendations presented by the business committee, we realized that the information circulating in the market did not reflect what had been agreed upon. This made it necessary to allow additional time to address these concerns and finalize outstanding technical work,” Hassan told journalists in Hargeisa.
The minister commended the business community for its role in Somaliland’s development, emphasizing that traders were not adversaries of government policy but partners in nation-building.
“Businesspeople are among those who have helped build this country. They are not opposed to the government or national development—they are contributors to it. We have listened to the concerns of both the public and the business community, and we have agreed to postpone the GST implementation until August 1, 2026, to resolve all technical issues,” he added.
Jamal Aideed, Chairman of the Somaliland Chamber of Commerce, confirmed that business leaders had formally requested the postponement to allow for more preparation time.
Aideed noted that confusion had arisen from incorrect information in the marketplace and affirmed that the tax would now be introduced on August 1, 2026.
“Following detailed discussions and analysis, both sides reached a common understanding. The GST sales tax proposal has been significantly revised from its original version, and we have agreed on the adjusted framework,” Aideed said.
“We requested the government to postpone the GST implementation, which was originally set for July 11, and the new date is now August 1.”
Both the government and business representatives stated that the postponement period would be used to complete technical preparations, enhance public communication, and ensure a smoother and more effective introduction of the GST system.
