MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has said that Somalis holding foreign passports will no longer be recognised as Somali citizens, a declaration that has sparked debate inside the country and among its vast diaspora.
At a public event, the president stated: “If you are holding a foreign passport, you are not a Somali.” He explained that Somalis with foreign passports will now be required to apply for visas through a new electronic system before entering the country.
The announcement could affect more than two million Somalis abroad, many of whom have acquired citizenship in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, Denmark and Italy. Remittances from the diaspora are estimated by the World Bank at over $2bn annually, a vital lifeline for Somalia’s economy.
Supporters of the president’s stance say the measure is aimed at protecting Somalia’s sovereignty and creating a clearer framework for citizenship. “Dual nationality has been misused, especially in politics,” a government official told Arlaadi Media Network. “This new process will help regulate who is Somali under the law.”
However, opposition politicians, legal experts and many in the diaspora have expressed alarm. They argue that the move contradicts the 2012 Provisional Constitution, which allows for dual nationality, and may violate international law guaranteeing citizens the right to enter their own country.
“This is not only unconstitutional, it risks severing ties with the very people who sustain Somalia through remittances and investment,” said Abdinasir Abdi, a lawyer based in Mogadishu.
Members of the diaspora have voiced strong criticism online, with hashtags such as #IAmSomali and #DualCitizenRights circulating widely. “We are not foreigners in our homeland,” wrote one Somali in UK. “Our passports may differ, but our identity does not.”
Somalia’s government has yet to clarify how the e-visa system will be implemented, or whether the president’s directive will need parliamentary approval.
However, the issue highlights the delicate balance Somalia faces in managing relations with its global diaspora — a community that has long been central to the country’s recovery but now feels its status is being called into question.
