LONDON: The United States and United Kingdom (US and UK) have issued warnings to travelers after a significant data breach compromised Somalia’s electronic visa system, potentially exposing the personal information of tens of thousands of applicants, the BBC reported on Saturday.
The US Embassy in Mogadishu stated it had received credible reports that unidentified hackers penetrated the Somali government’s e-visa platform, potentially compromising data from at least 35,000 people. Documents circulating online are reported to include applicants’ names, photographs, dates of birth, marital status, home addresses, and email contacts.
The UK government has also cautioned that the breach is ongoing and could expose any information entered into the system, urging people to “consider the risks before applying for an e-visa required for travel to Somalia.”
System Change and Regional Tensions
Somali authorities have not commented publicly on the breach. However, the government has quietly shifted its visa service from the original evisa.gov.so website to a new platform without explanation.
This incident has added fresh strain to the already tense relations between the federal government in Mogadishu and Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991 but is not internationally recognized. Under the new system, all travelers, including those heading to Somaliland and the semi-autonomous Puntland region, must apply for visas online.
Critics argue this requirement has led to double-charging in some areas, inflaming long-running disputes over fees, airspace control, and sovereignty.
Airspace Dispute Escalates
Tensions escalated this week when Somaliland President Abdirahman Irro outright rejected Somalia’s e-visa and ordered airlines to seek clearance from Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital, before entering its local airspace.
Somaliland’s foreign minister further warned that the system was unsafe, claiming personal data could fall “into the hands of extremist groups.”
In response, Mogadishu’s Civil Aviation Authority insisted it is the sole legal authority over the Mogadishu Flight Information Region, which covers the country’s entire airspace, and ordered aircraft to ignore any instructions issued by Somaliland.
Travel Disruptions and Conflicting Claims
Both sides have accused the other of creating security risks. The dispute has already had real-world consequences, with several passengers bound for Somaliland left stranded after airlines refused boarding without approval from Somalia’s e-visa system.
Somaliland officials claim their new directives took effect on November 10 and that some aircraft have already been rerouted. Footage released by its aviation ministry appears to show local air-traffic controllers issuing instructions to international pilots—a move hailed domestically as a show of autonomy.
The BBC reported that it sought comment from Somali aviation officials, who maintain that any deviation from Mogadishu’s authority could carry serious safety and legal consequences.
