By Zakaria Hassan - Reporter
Mogadishu, 7 September 2026 Somalia's Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Abdirashid Abdi has proposed linking social media accounts to national identity numbers issued by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), saying the measure could help authorities identify people behind online accounts.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 National Media Relations Strategy Forum in Mogadishu on Monday, Abdi said NIRA cards carry a national identification number that could be used to establish the identity of social media users.
He suggested future regulations could require people to use the identity number on their NIRA identification when opening social media accounts.
"There are many people creating accounts under different names and saying whatever they want," Abdi said, arguing that linking accounts to verified identities could help address the problem.
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Abdi also pointed to the use of social media by militant groups, saying authorities frequently take down accounts linked to al-Shabaab, only for new accounts to appear under different names.He urged the Ministry of Information to consider incorporating stronger identity requirements into media-related regulations and policies being developed by the government.
Modern media platforms can be used in both positive and negative ways, Abdi said, adding that authorities should develop policies that make greater use of their potential while limiting their misuse.
The proposal comes as Somalia continues to develop its national identification system, with NIRA responsible for registering residents and providing official identification.
Abdi did not announce a government decision to introduce mandatory NIRA verification for social media accounts, and it was not immediately clear whether such a requirement is being formally considered by the government or social media companies.