Hargeisa – In a significant move, three major aviation entities—the International Air Transport Association (IATA), FlyDubai, and Ethiopian Airlines—have formally updated their policies to recognize Somaliland’s independent visa-on-arrival system. This collective action highlights a stark contrast with Somalia, whose e-Visa platform was recently compromised in a massive data breach confirmed by the United States.
IATA led the shift, updating its global database to specify that visas are available upon arrival at Somaliland’s airports, explicitly naming Hargeisa Egal International Airport (HGA). This clearly distinguishes its procedures from those of Somalia.
FlyDubai and Ethiopian Airlines promptly followed, revising their travel advisories to confirm that passengers destined for Hargeisa (HGA) or Berbera (BBO) can obtain visas on arrival. Ethiopian Airlines’ bulletin explicitly stated that Somalia’s e-Visa requirements “do not apply” to these airports, underscoring Somaliland’s operational sovereignty over its borders.
The timing of these updates is critical. They coincided with a U.S. Embassy security alert disclosing a major breach of Somalia’s e-Visa system. The hack potentially exposed the sensitive personal data of at least 35,000 applicants, including U.S. citizens, compromising passport photos, birth details, and addresses. The incident has severely damaged confidence in Mogadishu’s digital infrastructure.
Analysis: De Facto Recognition and a Sharpening Contrast
The coordinated updates from IATA and the airlines do more than simplify travel logistics; they constitute a tacit endorsement of a long-standing reality on the ground. Somaliland functions as a separate political and administrative entity, managing its own security, borders, and immigration with a level of stability uncommon in the region.
The security failure of Somalia’s e-Visa system has inadvertently accelerated this recognition. While Mogadishu struggles with a crisis that exposes applicants to risk, Somaliland offers a straightforward and secure alternative: a physical visa issued at a controlled port of entry.
The implication is clear. Within the practical realm of international travel and aviation, Somaliland is already being treated as a distinct jurisdiction. By directing passengers to follow Hargeisa’s rules, not Mogadishu’s, global aviation is formally acknowledging what has been true for years: Somaliland’s border controls are independent, functional, and reliable. This represents a powerful, if unstated, form of recognition, aligning official policy with de facto realities.
