MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia on Thursday fully rolled out a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, tightening federal control over who enters and leaves the country and deepening tensions with semi-autonomous regions that reject Mogadishu’s authority over immigration procedures.
The rollout comes weeks after reports first surfaced about Mogadishu’s plan to introduce the ETA, which is directly linked to airlines’ Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) platforms. Officials say the system provides real-time access to names, dates of birth, passport details, travel history, destinations and visa status for all passengers on incoming flights.
The ETA also empowers the federal government to block travelers from boarding flights to Somalia if they lack the mandatory electronic visa – a rule that Somaliland and Puntland have rejected and that some airlines, including Ethiopian Airlines and FlyDubai, have occasionally failed to enforce.
Under the new system, airlines will be unable to issue boarding passes for passengers without the e-visa, a requirement that has stirred weeks of political tension. Authorities in the breakaway region of Somaliland have ordered carriers not to follow Mogadishu’s e-visa policy and warned that any airline that complies will be barred from landing there. Despite this directive, travelers entering Somaliland continue to face the federal e-visa requirement.
The standoff has raised fears of further political friction. Critics warn that Mogadishu could misuse the ETA to target opponents by restricting their entry or forcing them into exile. The federal government has not publicly addressed these concerns.
It remains unclear what additional steps Somaliland or Puntland – both vocal opponents of the e-visa mandate – will take in response to the new ETA system.
Contact us: info@somaliguardian.com
