Mogadishu (Dawan Africa) – Somalia has successfully integrated the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) with the Immigration Department, marking a major step toward modernizing the country’s civil registration and immigration systems. This integration aims to streamline the issuance of National IDs and passports, enhancing both efficiency and security for Somali citizens.
The government emphasized the significance of this integration during a training session for Immigration officers at Somali embassies in Mogadishu. “The integration of NIRA with the Immigration Department is a critical achievement for Somalia. This unified approach will make the process more secure, efficient, and cohesive,” a State Minister of Foreign affairs Ali Omar said . “The Civil Registry will join the integration soon, completing the system and ensuring seamless service for our citizens.” He added.
While the Civil Registration system has not yet been fully integrated, NIRA and Immigration services are now operating together. “The Civil Registry will soon be ready, and we are working to complete the integration across all regions,” Omar added.Some Federal Member States (FMS), including Somaliland, Puntland, and parts of Jubaland, are aligned with the Immigration system, NIRA faces challenges in full implementation in certain areas.
The White House cited “Somalia lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures” as the primary reason for the US ban on Somali passports, announced on 4th June 2025. The Somali government views the integration of NIRA and Immigration as a crucial step toward addressing these concerns and improving the country’s administrative capabilities.
