The government of Somalia has confirmed that its electronic visa system was hacked, exposing the personal information of thousands of travellers. This breach has raised significant concerns regarding the country’s digital security measures. The Immigration and Citizenship Agency announced a comprehensive investigation into the incident and stated that the e-visa service has been moved to a new website to prevent further compromises.
While officials acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, they did not specify the exact number of individuals affected. The admission follows warnings from both the United States and the United Kingdom, which indicated that the cyberattack might have compromised data belonging to more than 35,000 applicants, including foreign nationals and American citizens.
Public scrutiny intensified last week when users on social media began sharing what they claimed were leaked visa records. This incident has drawn attention to Somalia’s digital infrastructure, which the government has promoted as vital for enhancing security and modernising public services.
Criticism Over Government Response
Mohamed Ibrahim, a former telecommunications minister and respected technology expert, has expressed criticism towards the government’s handling of the breach. He stated that authorities should have been more transparent from the beginning. His sentiments were echoed by officials from Somaliland, who accused the government in Mogadishu of “institutional irresponsibility” for keeping the visa portal operational even after detecting the cyberattack.
The timing of this hack is particularly sensitive, coinciding with renewed tensions between Somalia and the self-declared Republic of Somaliland over issues related to airspace management and border control systems. Both regions have recently issued warnings concerning travel and visa policies, further escalating diplomatic friction.
The breach serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in Somalia’s digital infrastructure, which is essential for the nation’s security and public service modernization efforts. As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the government will address these critical issues and restore trust in its digital systems.
