MOGADISHU, Somalia – In a brightly lit control room at the Immigration and Citizenship Agency, a small team of Somali officials monitors real-time visa applications streaming in from across the world.
Behind the screens, a quiet revolution is underway — one that is positioning Somalia among the most technologically advanced nations in the Horn of Africa when it comes to border management.
The country’s new E-Visa system, launched under the direction of the Director of the Immigration and Citizenship Agency, Mustaf Dhuhulow, has transformed the way visitors enter Somalia.
Once a lengthy and uncertain process, visa approval now takes less than 24 hours for dual nationals and just three days for foreign visitors — a speed that has startled regional observers and delighted the Somali diaspora.
A Digital Leap Forward
“The E-Visa has improved security at our borders,” says Ashkir Cabdi Ashkir, the energetic head of Somalia’s E-Visa program, in an interview with Arlaadi Media Network. “It has enhanced the country’s economic resources and built the trust of our global partners in the safety and professionalism of Aden Adde International Airport.”
The E-Visa initiative, part of a broader modernization drive within Somalia’s immigration system, represents a symbolic and practical leap forward for a country once associated with paper-based bureaucracy and porous frontiers.
Inside the operation room, officers track data analytics, scan biometric profiles, and verify international applications with striking efficiency.
The system, integrated with security databases and digital payment platforms, aims to make Somalia not only safer but also more accessible to investors, aid workers, and tourists.
Resistance and Resolve
For a nation emerging from decades of conflict, such efficiency signals something larger: the reclaiming of state capacity.
Yet, the rollout hasn’t been without turbulence. Regional administrations in Somaliland and Puntland have voiced objections, arguing the system encroaches on their local jurisdictions. But for Ashkir, compromise does not mean concession.
“Our office operates 24 hours a day,” he emphasizes. “We ask our beloved Somalis — especially dual citizens — to support us in implementing the system rather than rejecting it. This is about correcting our nation’s image in the eyes of the world.”
That appeal reflects a broader narrative unfolding in Mogadishu — one of national consolidation through digital innovation.
Holding Airlines Accountable
Ashkir also issued a stern warning to airlines operating in Somalia’s skies: any carrier attempting to bypass the E-Visa process will face consequences.
“The Aviation Authorities will hold accountable anyone who fails to adhere to the system,” he warned, underscoring that compliance is not optional.
Such firmness underlines a newfound confidence within Somalia’s immigration office — a department once seen as symbolic but now pivotal to state security and reputation.
Backed by International Partners
The E-Visa project is just one component of a suite of digital tools reshaping Somalia’s borders.
Another milestone is the PISCES program (Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System), a biometric data platform backed by the United States government through its embassy in Mogadishu.
Director Dhuhulow praised the partnership, expressing gratitude for Washington’s “ongoing support not only to the Immigration and Citizenship Agency but also to the Somali government as a whole.”
He insists that the E-Visa is not about restriction but facilitation — a tool designed to simplify travel for both Somalis and foreign nationals.
A Nation Reclaiming Its Image
“Our goal is to make movement easier, not harder,” Dhuhulow said. “We want to project Somalia as a country that welcomes legitimate travelers and safeguards its people.”
In the span of a few months, Somalia’s digital transformation has begun to reshape global perceptions.
Once viewed as a frontier of instability, the country now boasts one of the fastest E-Visa systems in the Horn of Africa — an emblem of its ambition to modernize and re-engage with the world.
As screens flicker and applications are processed in real time at the E-Visa Operation Room, the message is unmistakable: Somalia is open for business — and it’s doing so on its own digital terms.
