Somali Presidential Palace
A substantial information leak in the Somali electronic visa system could have revealed private data belonging to tens of thousands of individuals, including US citizens, the American embassy in Mogadishu has warned.
It said obtained trustworthy accounts that "anonymous digital intruders" breached the Somali government's electronic visa system, potentially compromising data from at least 35,000 people.
The leaked documents distributed through digital channels contain full names, photos, date of birth information, relationship status, home addresses and electronic mail addresses, as stated in a American diplomatic communication published on last Thursday.
"This data breach is ongoing and might reveal any personal data you enter into the system," United Kingdom officials has similarly alerted travelers.
"Assess the potential threats before applying for a digital visa required for visiting Somalia."
Administrative Action
Somali authorities have remained silent about the security compromise. But the government has shifted its visa service away from evisa.gov.so toward the updated platform, without providing an official explanation.
"While the US Embassy in Mogadishu cannot verify whether an individual's data is included in the compromise, people who have submitted applications through the electronic visa system may be affected," the American announcement stated.
Geopolitical Impact
Somalia's new system requires all travellers, incorporating applicants from the independently governed area of the northern territory and the semi-autonomous region of the autonomous state, to seek entry visas online.
Critics say travellers have faced additional charges in particular territories, totaling duplicate payments.
Political Context
Somaliland, which declared independence in three decades ago, administers its affairs through independent structures although it lacks worldwide acceptance. The Federal Government asserts that the area continues to belong to its sovereign territory.
The alleged breach adds to ongoing disputes involving Somali federal authorities and Hargeisa over control of national air territory. Although Somalia re-established complete authority of territorial skies in the past decade, Hargeisa administration persistently challenges the arrangement.
Ongoing Conflict
The disagreement intensified this week as Hargeisa's chief executive the regional leader said the northern territory would reject the federal e-visa system and directed that aviation companies must obtain clearance from Somaliland officials before entering the region's aviation space.
Yet major airlines have chosen not to process individuals lacking Somalia's e-visa approval.
On Saturday, Somaliland's Foreign Minister the diplomatic representative reaffirmed that "every person entering the northern territory will obtain their visa on arrival", declaring Mogadishu's digital application process posed risks and alerting that "personal information might be obtained by extremist organizations" due to using it.
Travel Disruptions
The stand-off has left some travellers destined for Somaliland unable to board flights due to rejection at check-in because they didn't have Somalia's e-visa.
Hargeisa's air transport representative, the aviation minister, has told news organizations that the instructions - first announced in recent months - came into effect on 10 November.
Officials declared carriers that refuse might be directed to change course, and claimed multiple planes had been forced to change paths.
Airspace Control Conflict
Video evidence released by the northern region's air transport department appears to show territorial flight directors providing guidance to global airline crews - an action hailed internally as an assertion of the region's independence.
But Mogadishu's air transport department maintains it possesses complete jurisdictional power concerning the national airspace information zone (Flight Information Region), encompassing the entire country's aviation space. It has ordered each flight to ignore any instructions issued by sources besides Mogadishu.
It warned that not adhering to federal and global flight regulations could create safety risks and cause "significant legal repercussions".
