ID

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia has begun enforcing a new rule that requires passengers to present a national identity card for all domestic flights, a move officials say will tighten security and modernize how the country oversees internal air travel. The Somali Immigration and Citizenship Authority said the measure took effect March 1 following a two-month postponement intended to give citizens more time to register for the national ID. The policy was originally slated for Jan. 1, 2026. Mustafa Sheikh Ahmed Dhuxulow, the…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The Somali National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has extended the free period for obtaining the National Identity Card until Jan. 31, 2026, the agency’s deputy director general announced Thursday. Deputy Director General Abdirahman Said Ahmed said the decision is intended to widen public access to the ID program and ease pressure on registration sites as demand grows. “The National Identity Card issuance service has been extended for two months for the benefit of the Somali…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s push toward a unified, secure and inclusive digital identity gathered fresh momentum as government leaders, development partners and technology stakeholders mapped the next phase of the national ID rollout at the 2nd Somali National ID Conference, held Nov. 24-25 in the capital. Convened by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) in partnership with the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation, the conference underscored how the country’s digital ID program has…