Somalia’s Immigration Department Confirms E-Visa System Breach Amid Growing Public Concern

Mogadisho (Sahan Post):- Somalia’s Immigration and Citizenship Directorate has publicly confirmed for the first time that the country’s electronic visa system (E-Visa) was compromised, exposing the personal data of thousands of travelers bound for Somalia. In a statement issued on Sunday, the agency said it took “immediate emergency measures” to investigate the breach in order to minimize its impact.

According to the government, a national investigative task force, comprising security agencies, international cyber experts, and state data-protection bodies, has been appointed to assess the extent of the intrusion and recommend corrective measures. The Directorate pledged to release a full report once the investigation concludes.

The breach was first flagged by the U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu, which revealed that data belonging to nearly 35,000 applicants, including American citizens, had been stolen.

The revelation comes as the federal E-Visa system continues to generate widespread confusion, especially for travelers heading to Puntland and Somaliland. Passengers report inconsistent fee structures, widespread bribery, and conflicting instructions from aviation authorities. Some airlines say they were ordered by the federal government not to board passengers without an E-Visa, while Puntland and Somaliland have encouraged travelers to obtain visas on arrival at Garowe and Hargeisa airports instead.

The disruptions have also affected aviation safety, with multiple flights reporting procedural confusion in Somali airspace in recent days.

Tensions between the Federal Government and federal member states have escalated over control of the E-Visa revenues, which currently flow into federal coffers alone. As a result, some travelers who already paid for an electronic visa have been charged again upon arrival in Garowe or Hargeisa.

Observers note that the E-Visa scheme has increasingly taken on a political dimension. Federal officials have used public platforms to criticize Somaliland, while Puntland has warned that individuals traveling to Puntland not to take Federal Governments E-VISA.

Ultimately, ordinary citizens and travelers bear the heaviest burden. The hacking incident exposed the sensitive personal data of nearly 35,000 people, including individuals suspected to be foreign intelligence operatives once active inside Somalia. As criticism mounts, both domestic and international actors are urging Somalia to prioritize cybersecurity, transparency, and cooperation with regional authorities to restore public trust in the system.

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