OSLO, Norway, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The Norwegian government has begun paying the salaries of 380 employees of the Somalia government to help build up the country's legitimacy, officials say.
The first payments were made last week to the Ministry of Finance and Auditor General, The Local. no reported Monday.
Eidsvoll Holmas, Norway's international development minister, said Norway decided to pay the salaries to create "a strengthened public financial sector" that will "control the budget, be transparent with their projects, and so enhance the reputation of the government."
"Building up the state's competence allows it to increase its legitimacy, and so you get greater incentives to create political stability and peaceful development," Holmas said.
Employees of the departments must register their biometric data to ensure the payments go to the proper person.
The payments are administered by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
