Somalia’s Senate House of the Federal Parliament, on Saturday passed the National Identification and Registration Bill paving the way for the rollout of National IDs to Somalis for the first time in over three decades.
The session was presided over by Senator Ali Sha’bban Ibrahim.
All 54-member chamber who attended the session endorsed the bill following its earlier passage by the Lower House on March 1.
Interior Minister of the federal government of Somalia Ahmed Fiqi hailed the passage of the Bill noting it was crucial in ensuring Somalis now acquire IDs.
He added the law will also resolve the challenge of identity, security, financial transactions and business registration among other areas which require identification.
The law now heads to the president for signature.
In 2018, Somalia inked a US$ 10.5 million deal with Pakistan for the grant of and provision of technical assistance for the development of Somalia’s National Identification System.
The legal age for one to acquire an ID card in Somalia is 15. There are three steps to the process; first one has to get a letter from their district commissioner’s office that confirms that they are Somali and are from that particular area.Â
They then go to Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to have a criminal background check conducted and seek clearance.