US confirms possible hack of Somalia’s new E-Visa system

By Newsflash Writer

Somalia’s recently launched e-visa platform may have been compromised this week, with thousands of personal records reportedly accessed by unknown hackers.

Although authorities in Mogadishu did not immediately confirm the suspected breach, the US government said there was “credible” information suggesting that intruders had infiltrated the system, which went live just two months ago. According to the US Embassy in Mogadishu, the incident is believed to have occurred on November 11, when hackers “penetrated Somalia’s e-Visa system, potentially exposing the personal data of at least 35,000 people.” The information allegedly accessed includes applicants’ names, photographs, birth details, email contacts, marital status, and home addresses.

Suspected data breach raises security concerns

While Embassy Mogadishu could not confirm whether any individual applicant’s information had definitively been compromised, officials warned that the hackers might have accessed records belonging to those who recently applied for e-visas. The US government said its alert was intended as a general precaution in case the stolen data is misused.

By Thursday, the Somali Immigration and Citizenship Agency—which oversees the e-visa platform—had not acknowledged any loss of personal information. The suspected breach came as Mogadishu was engaged in a dispute with regional administrations in Somaliland and Puntland over the implementation of the new digital visa system.

On Monday, Somaliland declared that all travellers entering its territory must pay for visas upon arrival, even if they already possess Somali e-visas. It further instructed airlines flying into the region to ensure all passengers meet Somaliland’s entry requirements, causing confusion among carriers.

Somalia has been rolling out the e-visa platform since September, arguing that the system will streamline travel, strengthen border management, and boost immigration revenue—an initiative recommended by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

The incident now means Somalia must navigate not only political tensions with its regions but also the urgent need to secure the technology underpinning its new visa programme.