HARGEISA – The recent announcement by Mogadishu’s Immigration and Citizenship Agency of a nationwide e-Visa system has been met with strong criticism and concern in Somaliland, where it is seen as a direct assault on its hard-won sovereignty.
The new policy, set to take effect on September 1, 2025, would require all foreign nationals and passport holders—including the vast Somaliland diaspora and international visitors—to seek online entry approval (e-Visa) from the Federal Government of Somalia before traveling to any part of its claimed territory, which includes the self-declared independent Republic of Somaliland.
A Direct Challenge to Sovereignty
Analysts and officials in Hargeisa view the move as a provocative attempt by the weak, Mogadishu-based administration to project an image of control over Somaliland’s borders and international travel. For over three decades, Somaliland has maintained its own independent government, currency, security forces, and immigration system, functioning as a stable and democratic entity in the Horn of Africa.
The proposed e-Visa system is widely perceived as an illegitimate overreach that threatens to destabilize the region’s political status quo.
Potential Wide-Ranging Impacts
The implications of the policy are significant and multifaceted:
- The Diaspora Community: Hundreds of thousands of Somalilanders living abroad, who hold foreign passports, would be forced to obtain entry visas from a government they do not recognize. This places an undue burden on their right to return to their homeland and could sever vital cultural and economic ties.
- International Engagement: The policy creates immediate uncertainty for investors, aid workers, diplomats, and tourists planning travel to Somaliland. The prospect of being vetted and approved by Mogadishu authorities is seen as a major deterrent that could severely impact foreign investment, tourism, and international cooperation.
- Political Perception: By rolling out a unified visa system, Somalia aims to present a misleading image to the international community, suggesting it exercises functional authority over all its claimed borders. This is seen in Hargeisa as a calculated move to damage Somaliland’s political reputation and its decades-long quest for recognition.
Government Response and Public Calls for Action
As of now, there has been no official, publicized response from the Somaliland government, particularly from its Ministry of Aviation and Foreign Affairs. This silence has sparked concern among citizens and commentators who are urging the administration to take decisive action.
Observers suggest necessary steps include:
· A formal and swift diplomatic rejection of the policy.
· A clear public communication strategy from relevant ministries, assuring international partners and the diaspora of Somaliland’s control over its own immigration.
· Engaging with foreign nations and airlines to disregard the directive and continue coordinating directly with Hargeisa’s authorities.
There is also a growing call from within Somaliland for its diaspora community to refuse compliance with the proposed system, framing it as a matter of national principle and an infringement on their sovereignty. The coming weeks are expected to see a firm and calculated response from Hargeisa as this new point of contention unfolds.
