MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s Puntland state has refused to implement the federal government’s new electronic visa system, continuing instead to impose its own visa-on-arrival regime on travellers entering the region.
The dispute has exposed growing administrative rifts within Somalia’s fragile federal system and raised concerns over potential disruptions to air travel.
BBC Somali journalist Fowsa Hanshi reported on Monday that she was required to pay for a visa on arrival when she landed in Bosaso, Puntland’s commercial hub, late last month month despite holding a valid e-visa issued by federal immigration authorities in Mogadishu. Regional officials informed her that Puntland does not recognise the federal e-visa and that travellers must obtain a separate permit at the airport.
The Puntland visa costs $60, the same as the federal e-visa fee of $64, effectively doubling the amount paid by visitors entering through the region. Immigration officers in Bosaso said the state operates its own visa system independent of Mogadishu’s administration.
The standoff mirrors a similar policy adopted by the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, which has ordered international airlines to disregard the federal e-visa requirement for passengers flying to its airports. Somaliland authorities have warned that airlines failing to comply could be barred from operating in the region or using its airspace.
Ethiopian Airlines and Flydubai have since dropped the e-visa requirement for Somaliland-bound passengers, drawing sharp rebuke from the federal government, which insists it remains the only legitimate authority responsible for the entire Somali airspace. Mogadishu has warned that airlines breaching its regulations could face penalties under national and international aviation law.
Analysts say the federal government introduced the e-visa scheme to boost revenue and streamline entry procedures. However, the lack of consultation with regional administrations has instead created confusion and risks escalating tensions between Mogadishu, Puntland, and Somaliland.
Observers warn that unless the federal and regional authorities reach a unified framework on visa and airspace management, the dispute could complicate travel for Somalis returning from abroad and hinder efforts to strengthen national cohesion.
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