🔗 Share this article United States and United Kingdom Warn of Major Electronic Visa Security Compromise in Federal Republic of Somalia Somali Presidential Palace At least 35,000 people could be impacted, alerts the United States embassy A major data breach in the Federal Republic of Somalia's electronic visa system potentially disclosed private data belonging to tens of thousands of applicants, including American nationals, the United States diplomatic mission in Mogadishu has alerted. The embassy reported gathered trustworthy accounts that "anonymous digital intruders" breached the Federal Government of Somalia's digital visa application portal, possibly exposing information belonging to roughly 35,000 people. The exposed records distributed through digital channels contain names, photographs, birth dates, marital status, residential locations and email contacts, as stated in a United States official announcement published on recently. "This information compromise is ongoing and might reveal any sensitive details you enter into this platform," British authorities has additionally cautioned travellers. "Consider the risks prior to requesting a digital visa necessary for travel to the Federal Republic." Official Reaction Somali authorities have not commented regarding the incident. Nevertheless the government has transferred its visa service from the original e-visa website to the new system the updated platform, without issuing a public clarification. "While Embassy Mogadishu cannot verify if personal information is part of the compromise, travelers who have requested visas for a Somali e-visa could be impacted," the official communication said. Regional Implications Somalia's new system requires every visitor, comprising individuals from the self-declared republic of the breakaway region and the partially independent area of the autonomous state, to seek entry visas online. Commentators state travellers have faced extra fees in particular territories, equivalent to repeated fees. Political Context The northern territory, that announced sovereignty in three decades ago, manages its territory through independent structures but has not been internationally recognised. Mogadishu authorities asserts that the area continues to belong to its national domain. The reported compromise exacerbates long-running tensions concerning central government and Somaliland administration concerning jurisdiction of national air territory. While Somalia regained complete authority of national aviation space in the past decade, Hargeisa administration regularly disputes the current system. Ongoing Conflict The dispute worsened in recent days after the northern region's leader the regional leader stated the breakaway region would refuse the federal e-visa system and instructed that carriers are required to secure permission from Hargeisa prior to accessing its airspace. However prominent aviation companies have declined to process individuals lacking Somalia's e-visa approval. In the latest development, Somaliland's Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Aadan reiterated that "anyone travelling to the breakaway region should receive travel authorization upon landing", stating Somalia's e-visa system lacked security and warning that "personal information could be accessed by extremist organizations" because of using it. Travel Disruptions The stand-off has left numerous passengers heading to Somaliland stranded at airports following refusal of entry because they didn't have Mogadishu's digital permit. Somaliland's Civil Aviation Minister, Fu'aad Ahmed Nuux, has stated to media outlets that the regulations - first announced in recent months - were implemented on 10 November. Officials declared carriers that refuse would be instructed to divert, and stated multiple planes were previously redirected. Airspace Control Conflict Recorded material published by Somaliland's aviation ministry reportedly displays local air-traffic controllers providing guidance to foreign aircraft commanders - a move celebrated domestically as a confirmation of Somaliland's autonomy. However the Somalia Civil Aviation Authority asserts it possesses complete jurisdictional power concerning the federal aviation control area (FIR), encompassing the entire country's aviation space. Authorities have instructed each flight to pay no attention to all directives provided by entities except Mogadishu. Officials cautioned that ignoring national and worldwide air transport standards could create security threats and cause "serious legal consequences".