Hargeisa (SahanPost): People traveling to Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland administration, from abroad have reported facing challenges with the newly implemented e-visa system introduced by the Somali government. Some passengers have even been denied boarding flights due to the system.
Abdirahman Aden, a member of the Somaliland diaspora, who passed through Dubai on his journey, told Galayd TV that he and other travelers heading to Hargeisa were told they must obtain a visa from Somalia and he was stranded in Dubai for an extended period.
“When I arrived in Dubai and wanted to fly to Somaliland, they told me I didn’t have an E-visa. I showed them a paper stating that passengers can get the visa upon arrival in Hargaisa, but they said they didn’t recognize Somaliland’s laws,” said Abdirahman.
He further explained that after eventually obtaining the Somali visa and arriving in Hargeisa, they were asked to pay $60 per person, with authorities not recognizing the Somali visa. He mentioned that this caused significant problems.
He added that, on average, about 40 people to Somaliland are denied boarding daily due to issues with the E-visa. “It’s clear that the government we elected is neglecting its duties, and the people are being told we’re doing things to help you, but the reality is different,” he said.
Mohamed Hashi Abdi, Leader of the Opposition Party in Somaliland
The leader of the Somaliland opposition party, KAAH, Mohamed Hashi Abdi, also reported being detained at Dubai airport and was told he needed to obtain a Somali E-visa, although he was later allowed to proceed.
“I was told in Dubai that I didn’t have a Somali E-visa, and there was an argument. It has become even harder now. Our government does not accepting this is happening, and it is a major criticism. We’ve written letters of complaint, and it’s unacceptable,” said Hashi.
He also mentioned that there should be an alternative program to combat the e-visa system, suggesting that an e-visa system be implemented in a way that allows people to obtain the visa at their point of entry.
The Somali Federal Government recently imposed a requirement for travelers to apply for an e-visa online before traveling to Mogadishu, Hargeisa, and other cities. This has become a significant obstacle for people traveling to Somaliland, Puntland and other Parts of Somalia forcing citizens to pay double fees a single E-visa, as Somaliland has rejected the Somali E-visa system.
Discover more from SahanPost - English
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.