Cyberattack on Somalia’s E-Visa System May Have Exposed Data of at Least 35,000, U.S. Embassy Says
MOGADISHU, Somalia — The U.S. Embassy in Somalia warned Wednesday that cybercriminals may have penetrated the Somali government’s electronic visa (E‑Visa) system, potentially exposing personal information belonging to thousands of applicants.
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What the embassy reported
The embassy said multiple reliable sources confirmed on Nov. 11, 2025, that the system may have been compromised and that records for at least 35,000 visa applicants could be affected. The statement said “thousands of U.S. citizens are believed to be among those whose information may have been compromised.”
According to the embassy, the types of data potentially exposed include applicants’ names, photographs, dates and places of birth, email addresses, marital status and residential addresses. The notice stressed that it cannot confirm whether every individual who applied for a visa was impacted, and that anyone who previously submitted an electronic visa application to Somalia could be at risk.
Official and public responses
The Somali Federal Government has not publicly confirmed the alleged cyberattack. Social media posts, particularly on X, have circulated thousands of documents, photos, passports and other personal files that some users and outlets claim belong to people who traveled to Somalia and whose data was compromised.
Axadle, which reported the embassy notice, said it had not independently verified the authenticity of the materials beyond the U.S. Embassy’s statement.
Guidance for potentially affected people
The embassy advised those who may have been affected to monitor announcements from the Somali Immigration and Naturalization Service about the E‑Visa system and to consult experts on managing risks related to stolen personal information.
At this stage officials have released limited details about the scope and origin of the suspected breach. Journalists and authorities say the situation remains fluid, and further updates are expected as investigations proceed and more information becomes available.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
