Somali Presidential Palace
A significant security compromise in the Federal Republic of Somalia's digital visa application system could have revealed private data belonging to tens of thousands of individuals, comprising United States passport holders, the US embassy in Somalia has cautioned.
It said had received trustworthy accounts that "anonymous digital intruders" breached the Somali government's electronic visa system, possibly exposing details concerning at least 35,000 applicants.
The compromised files distributed through digital channels comprise names, photographs, birth dates, marriage information, residential locations and email information, as stated in a United States official announcement published on Thursday.
"This security incident is ongoing and potentially disclose all private information provided to this platform," the UK has also warned travelers.
"Assess the potential threats before applying for a digital visa mandatory for visiting Somalia."
Government Response
Federal administration representatives have not commented regarding the incident. But the government has shifted its visa service away from the initial application portal toward the new application website, without providing an official explanation.
"Although the US Embassy in Mogadishu cannot verify whether an individual's data is included in the compromise, individuals who have applied for a Somali e-visa may be affected," the official communication said.
Regional Implications
The revised application procedure requires each person traveling, including those from the self-declared republic of the breakaway region and the semi-autonomous region of the autonomous state, to seek travel visas via electronic platforms.
Commentators state applicants have experienced additional charges in particular territories, amounting to duplicate payments.
Political Context
Somaliland, which declared independence in the early nineties, administers its affairs via separate governmental bodies although it lacks internationally recognised. The Federal Government maintains that the area remains part of its sovereign territory.
The alleged breach exacerbates long-running tensions involving Mogadishu and Somaliland administration concerning jurisdiction of national air territory. While Mogadishu restored full control of territorial skies in 2017, Somaliland regularly disputes the current system.
Current Developments
The conflict escalated further recently when the northern region's leader Abdirahman Irro announced the northern territory would not accept the federal e-visa system and ordered that carriers need to acquire clearance from Hargeisa when approaching its airspace.
Yet major airlines have refused to board passengers lacking Somalia's e-visa approval.
On Saturday, Somaliland's Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Aadan reaffirmed that "every person entering the breakaway region can acquire entry permission on arrival", saying Mogadishu's digital application process was not safe and cautioning that "personal information might be obtained by extremist organizations" due to employing the platform.
Passenger Complications
The impasse has caused numerous passengers heading to the northern region stranded at airports after being denied boarding because they didn't have Somalia's e-visa.
Somaliland's Civil Aviation Minister, the aviation minister, has told news organizations that the instructions - originally publicized previously - became operational on 10 November.
Officials declared airlines that do not comply would be instructed to change course, and claimed numerous flights had been forced to change paths.
Airspace Control Conflict
Footage released by Hargeisa's civil aviation authority seems to demonstrate regional aviation officials giving directions to foreign aircraft commanders - an action applauded locally as an assertion of Somaliland's autonomy.
But the federal aviation regulator insists it maintains sole administrative and legal control concerning the Mogadishu Flight Information Region (Flight Information Region), encompassing the whole nation's airspace. It has ordered all aircraft to pay no attention to any guidance coming from authorities other than central government.
Officials cautioned that failing to comply with federal and global flight regulations could pose security threats and cause "major judicial outcomes".
