By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
Somalia, 22 December 2025 — Somaliland’s Minister of Aviation and Airports, Fu’ad Ahmed Nuur, has said that the dispute over Somalia’s electronic visa (E-Visa) system remains unresolved, stressing that the administration is pursuing legal avenues to challenge the measure.
Speaking to the Somali service of the BBC, the minister said Somaliland is working to “clarify its position to the world” that the Somali federal government has no legal authority over Somaliland. He emphasized that any electronic visa issued by authorities in Mogadishu is not valid for use within Somaliland’s territory.
“Yes, travelers may be asked to present an electronic visa,” he said, “but the reality we are affirming and conveying to the international community including the United Kingdom and other countries is that Somalia has no legal authority over Somaliland. Any visa issued by the Somali government does not operate in our territory and cannot be used for entry.”
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The minister noted that international civil aviation regulations under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) stipulate that a traveler should be required to hold only one visa or single entry permit. He described the enforcement of Somalia’s E-Visa as “an arbitrary measure” being used by authorities in Mogadishu.
He added that Somaliland has formally communicated its position to the international community, saying the current situation “will not continue” and that legal efforts will persist to halt the implementation of the system.
The Somali federal government began implementing the electronic visa system in early September, a move that sparked widespread controversy and formal rejection from Somaliland, particularly after international airlines were instructed to require foreign passport holders to obtain an E-Visa before travel.
