🔗 Share this article

Government Residence

A significant data breach in Somalia's electronic visa system could have revealed private data pertaining to tens of thousands of individuals, comprising US citizens, the United States diplomatic mission in the Somali nation has cautioned.

The embassy reported obtained reliable information that "unknown cyber attackers" compromised the Mogadishu administration's digital visa application portal, likely endangering data from at least 35,000 people.

The leaked documents distributed through digital channels include names, photographs, birth dates, marital status, place of residence and email information, according to a American diplomatic communication issued on recently.

"This information compromise continues to occur and might reveal any personal data you enter into this platform," the UK has similarly alerted travellers.

"Assess the potential threats before applying for a digital visa necessary for travel to the Federal Republic."

Government Response

Federal administration representatives have not issued statements regarding the incident. Nevertheless authorities has moved visa processing away from the original e-visa website to the new system etas.gov.so, without offering an official explanation.

"While American diplomatic mission in Somalia lacks the capacity to validate if personal information is part of the security incident, people who have submitted applications through the electronic visa system may be affected," the American announcement declared.

Regional Implications

The revised application procedure necessitates all travellers, incorporating applicants from the independently governed area of the northern territory and the partially independent area of Puntland, to request entry visas online.

Commentators state visitors have encountered additional charges in certain regions, totaling duplicate payments.

Geopolitical Background

The self-declared republic, that proclaimed statehood in three decades ago, manages its territory through independent structures but has not been worldwide acceptance. The Federal Government maintains that the region remains part of its national domain.

The reported compromise adds to ongoing disputes involving Somali federal authorities and Somaliland administration over control of national air territory. Although Somalia regained full control of territorial skies in the past decade, Somaliland persistently challenges the current system.

Recent Escalation

The dispute escalated further recently when Somaliland's President the regional leader stated Somaliland would not accept Mogadishu's electronic visa and ordered that airlines need to acquire permission from northern authorities when approaching its airspace.

Nevertheless prominent aviation companies have declined to board passengers absent federal visa authorization.

In the latest development, the northern region's top diplomat the foreign minister reiterated that "every person entering the breakaway region can acquire their visa on arrival", declaring the federal electronic visa platform posed risks and cautioning that "people's data can fall into the hands of extremist groups" because of employing the platform.

Passenger Complications

The conflict has caused some travellers heading to Hargeisa stuck in transit hubs due to rejection at check-in due to absence of the federal electronic visa.

Hargeisa's air transport representative, Fu'aad Ahmed Nuux, has informed media outlets that the instructions - originally publicized earlier this year - came into effect on November 10th.

The minister stated carriers that refuse might be directed to reroute, and claimed numerous flights had already been rerouted.

Airspace Control Conflict

Footage distributed by the northern region's air transport department appears to show local air-traffic controllers issuing instructions to international pilots - an action hailed internally as a confirmation of northern self-governance.

But Mogadishu's air transport department asserts it retains complete jurisdictional power regarding the federal aviation control area (FIR), that includes the entire country's aviation space. It has ordered every plane to ignore all directives issued by authorities other than central government.

Authorities alerted that not adhering to Somali and international aviation rules could create safety risks and result in "significant legal repercussions".