Mogadishu, – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday stressed the mandatory use of the country’s new electronic visa (E-Visa) system and national identification card, warning that citizens cannot access key services without them.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud delivered his remarks in a national address directed at Somali citizens, particularly those holding foreign passports and resisting the new E-Visa requirement.
The president underscored that anyone carrying a foreign passport must obtain an E-Visa to enter Somalia and insisted that public and private institutions – including telecom firms, banks, and ministries – must deny services to individuals without the Somali national ID card.
The speech was made in Mogadishu but was directed to Somali citizens across the country and the diaspora.
The remarks came on September 18, 2025, amid ongoing government reforms to streamline governance and strengthen national security.
The president argued that national identification is the foundation of citizenship and governance. He warned against “personalized politics” that undermine institutions and stressed that disputes within the federal system should be resolved through dialogue, laws, and regulations – not conflict.
Hassan Sheikh linked the E-Visa and ID initiatives to broader reforms, including major development projects underway in federal member states and preparations for a one-person-one-vote electoral system.
“It is a crime for someone without a national ID to receive services from a telecom company, a bank, or a ministry. A Somali is Somali through the Somali National ID card,” Hassan Sheikh said.
He also cautioned against distractions from the country’s reform trajectory: “Do not divert us from the path of a one-person-one-vote election. We are moving forward on that road, taking the necessary steps for progress.”
Somalia has been rolling out its E-Visa and biometric ID systems as part of wider state-building measures aimed at improving security, reducing fraud, and modernizing governance. The reforms have faced resistance, particularly from diaspora Somalis and dual passport holders who question the practicality of the policies.
By framing the national ID and E-Visa as essential tools of citizenship and sovereignty, President Hassan Sheikh reinforced his administration’s commitment to institutional reforms. However, the strong rhetoric also highlights the challenges his government faces in balancing modernization with public acceptance and political consensus.
