Inside Somalia’s E-Visa Meltdown: Foreign Intelligence Operatives Flee, Government Denies Crisis as Fears Deepen

MOGADISHU (Sahan Post) — Somalia is facing one of the most alarming cyber breaches in its recent history after the exposure of sensitive data belonging to more than 35,000 E-Visa applicants, triggering a mass exodus of at least 60 foreign intelligence specialists who reportedly fled the country within 24 hours over fears their operations and identities had been compromised.

Multiple security and diplomatic sources told Sahan Post that the specialists, some of whom were believed to be operating covertly inside Somalia, panicked after learning that their personal information was among the leaked files. This included full names, photographs, dates and places of birth, contact information, marital status, and home addresses, according to a notice issued by the U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu.

Foreign embassies, concerned about the scale of the breach, have privately warned the Somali government that they may no longer comply with the current E-Visa procedures, describing the system as structurally insecure and politically manipulated.

A Breach Larger Than Admitted

While the U.S. Embassy did not officially confirm that its citizens’ data was compromised, officials conceded that “those who applied for Somali E-Visas may have been affected.”

Somali security sources, however, paint a far more chaotic picture, intelligence officers from at least five countries scrambled to exit Somalia, some were evacuated on short notice from Mogadishu International Airport, foreign missions reportedly advised their nationals working in sensitive roles to “assume compromise.”

Political Tensions Fuel System Collapse

The breach comes amid worsening tensions between Somalia’s Federal Government and its federal member states. Puntland, Somaliland and Jubaland have openly clashed with Mogadishu over constitutional amendments and federal overreach, accusing the government of centralizing power, including control of E-Visa revenue, at the expense of state autonomy.

These tensions have trickled into the immigration system. Puntland and Somaliland have told travelers not to use the federal E-Visa, urging them instead to obtain visas on arrival. The conflicting directives have deeply fragmented the country’s entry procedures, creating confusion at airports and exposing the system’s vulnerabilities.

Security Fears and Denials

Compounding the crisis is Somalia’s already fragile security environment. The country continues to battle Al-Shabaab insurgents, while ISIS elements remain active in Puntland. Analysts warn that any intelligence exposure could have dangerous operational consequences, including kidnappings, targeted attacks, or compromised missions.

Somalia’s Minister of Defence, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, dismissed claims that foreign military or intelligence personnel were affected, calling the reports “baseless fabrications from enemies of Somalia’s progress.” He insisted the breach was merely a “criminal cyberattack designed to discredit government institutions.”

But insiders say the atmosphere inside government ministries is tense, with officials unsure of the full extent of the breach or how deeply hackers penetrated the system.

A System in Crisis, Citizens Pay the Price

The E-Visa failure has had broader consequences beyond intelligence circles. Ordinary travelers have faced, contradictory airport instructions, skyrocketing visa fees, double-charging in Garowe and Hargeisa, flight disruptions and safety concerns in Somali airspace.

Meanwhile, humanitarian conditions worsen as Somalia faces extreme weather, shortages, and reduced U.S. foreign aid.

For now, one thing is clear: the E-Visa breach has not only exposed travelers’ data but has also laid bare Somalia’s fractured political landscape, fragile institutions, and deepening crisis of governance.

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