By Abukar Albadri
MOGADISHU, Somalia – On Saturday, 04 October 2025, I had the privilege of visiting the Somalia Immigration and Citizenship Agency in Mogadishu, an institution once synonymous with fragility but now reemerging as a pillar of national pride and international trust. I was personally received by the Director, Mustaf Sheikh Ali Dhuhulow, who since his appointment in December 2024 has introduced far-reaching reforms that have revolutionized the very meaning of immigration management in Somalia.
What began as a routine visit quickly unfolded into a guided tour that revealed the true scale of transformation underway. The Director himself accompanied me through the agency’s corridors and departments, explaining the new systems, introducing the dedicated staff, and demonstrating how Somalia’s immigration has been elevated to international standards.
Our tour began at the Visa Section, the frontline of Somalia’s border control. Here, 18 full-time officers work in shifts around the clock, ensuring that visa applicants are assisted at any hour of the day. The atmosphere was one of focus and efficiency — computer terminals buzzing, biometric scanners in constant use, and staff explaining procedures to travellers with clarity.
From there, we proceeded to the Passport Application Section, where Somali citizens begin their journey to secure a national passport. I was shown how applications are logged, verified, and cross-checked with multiple layers of security.
The next stop was the Verification and Security Section, a nerve center of the entire system. Here, advanced software connects applications to Somali police records and the Interpol biometric database, instantly flagging anyone with a suspicious or criminal background. This integration means that Somalia is now directly plugged into the world’s crime-prevention networks — a leap that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.
We also visited the Comms Office, responsible for public information and international coordination, and the Passport Printing Section, where high-quality, fraud-resistant documents are produced. Nearby, the Distribution Office ensures that citizens receive their passports promptly and securely both in Somalia and the Somali embassies in the world.
The tour concluded at Aden Adde International Airport’s Border Control and Duty Stations, where immigration officers, equipped with biometric systems, verify every traveller entering or leaving Somalia. Watching these officers scan fingerprints and iris patterns in real time underscored the seriousness with which Somalia now treats border integrity.
For decades, Somalia’s immigration services were plagued by inefficiency, corruption, and weak oversight. Passports were easy to forge, borders easy to cross, and systems easy to manipulate. That reality, however, has now been turned upside down.
Under Dhuhulow’s stewardship, Somalia has embraced modernity with confidence. The Agency is not only fully functional but also connected to global security infrastructure. Every traveller entering Somalia is vetted against Interpol’s global alerts and Somalia’s national police records, closing loopholes that once allowed criminals and traffickers to move with impunity.
One of the most groundbreaking reforms is the mandatory e-Visa system. It now requires all travellers — including members of the Somali diaspora — to obtain visas in advance before boarding a flight. Airlines have been ordered to enforce this rule strictly, ensuring that no one can fly into Somalia without pre-clearance.
The visa verification system is seamlessly connected to security databases, enabling authorities to intercept individuals red-flagged in Interpol’s system, as well as those facing prosecution in Somalia. This measure has already resulted in the detention of fugitives who had evaded capture for more than 14 years, as well as human traffickers who once exploited Somalia as a transit hub.
“No traveller can now bypass our controls,” Dhuhulow told me firmly during our discussion. “Every passport and visa is verified against national and international crime databases. Somalia is no longer a blind spot on the world map of border security.”
The reforms have introduced a comprehensive set of measures that rival systems in far more developed countries:
- Biometric border controls, capable of scanning fingerprints and irises at all entry and exit points.
- Real-time verification networks, linked to police records and Interpol databases.
- Digitally enhanced passports, designed with advanced security features to prevent forgery.
- 24/7 visa processing capacity, staffed by professionals who serve applicants promptly and transparently.
During my visit, officers proudly showed me records of individuals apprehended since the reforms went live — among them fugitives, traffickers, and irregular migrants who once believed Somalia could be a safe passage.
Director Duhulow confirmed that the United States government has played a pivotal role in supporting Somalia’s immigration reforms, particularly in the establishment of the biometric system and the integration of Somalia’s databases with Interpol’s global crime-detection network. This partnership, he emphasized, has given Somalia the technological capacity and international linkage needed to effectively monitor and control its borders, intercept fugitives, and prevent the misuse of Somali territory as a transit hub for criminal networks.
In addition to technological support, the United States government also trained 108 Somali immigration officers, equipping them with the skills to operate advanced biometric systems and enforce the new security protocols. These officers are now effectively implementing the reformed services across the agency, ensuring that the modernization of Somalia’s immigration is not only system-based but also driven by well-trained personnel capable of maintaining international standards.
He explained the broader implications with remarkable clarity: “This is not just about visas and passports. It is about Somalia’s future. A strong and credible immigration system means stronger security, renewed trust, and greater future investment. We are building the foundation of a nation that is safe, open, and respected.”
Moreover, the improvements pave the way for Somalia’s deeper integration into the East African Community (EAC). With border and visa standards harmonized, Somalia can participate more effectively in regional cooperation, trade, and mobility frameworks.
Dhuhulow believes that the reforms also carry enormous economic implications. For the first time in decades, international investors can look at Somalia with confidence, assured that the country’s entry systems are secure and reliable. This credibility is expected to attract foreign business and trade, while also bolstering Somalia’s tourism and diaspora engagement.
Moreover, the improvements pave the way for Somalia’s deeper integration into the East African Community (EAC). With border and visa standards harmonized, Somalia can participate more effectively in regional cooperation, trade, and mobility frameworks.
As I concluded my tour, one message became clear: Somalia’s immigration service has crossed a historic threshold. Its borders are no longer porous; its passports are no longer questionable; its systems are no longer fragile. Instead, immigration has become a cornerstone of national security and a beacon of international trust.
What I witnessed firsthand was not just an administrative reform but a national rebirth in border governance. Thanks to the leadership of Mustaf Sheikh Ali Dhuhulow, Somalia’s immigration system has entered a new era — one in which both Somali citizens and the international community can rely on its integrity. Somalia is no longer catching up; it is now setting the standard for immigration in the region.
