By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Somalia, 17 November 2025 — The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and the Somalia Non-State Actors (SONSA) network have signed a collaboration agreement aimed at enhancing public awareness and community participation in the rollout of Somalia’s National Identification Program.
The signing ceremony, held Thursday at NIRA headquarters in Mogadishu was attended by NIRA Director-General Abdiwali Ali Abdulle ‘Timade’ and SONSA Chairperson Osman Muhyadin Mo’allim ‘Shatah’
NIRA Director-General said the partnership underscores the government agency’s commitment to working closely with civil society to strengthen public trust in the national identification system.
He noted that SONSA will play a key role in supporting outreach and helping citizens understand the importance of registration and identity verification.
“Civil society organizations play a significant role in awareness efforts related to citizen registration,” the Director-General added.
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For his part, SONSA Chairperson welcomed the agreement, stressing the vital role of civil society in promoting good governance and improving access to public services.
“Civil society is emphasizing that the delivery of national identification services — such as ID issuance — should make essential processes more accessible and empower citizens,” he said.
The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) is a government agency responsible for implementing Somalia’s National ID program, which aims to provide every citizen with a secure, verifiable digital identity. The NIRA ID card linked to multiple key government and private services — including passport applications, business licensing, and access to both public and private sector services.
Officials said that by early next year, the National ID will also be integrated with domestic travel systems, further expanding its functionality as part of Somalia’s digital governance reforms.
The officials said the agreement marks an important step toward building public confidence in Somalia’s National ID system, strengthening community outreach, and fostering closer coordination between government institutions and civil society as Somalia advances its digital governance and modernization agenda.
