Somalia’s Cabinet Backs Third-Generation E-Passport Plan, Reviews Security and Economy
Somalia’s Council of Ministers convened in Mogadishu on Thursday to review the country’s security situation, economic developments, and the progress of a plan to introduce a third-generation electronic passport, according to AllAfrica reporting drawn from Shabelle Media Network.
Ministers approved work on the new polycarbonate e-passport, which is intended to modernise travel procedures and strengthen the security of Somali travel documents. Third-generation e-passports are an internationally recognised standard that incorporates biometric data, a polycarbonate data page and embedded electronic chips designed to make forgery more difficult and to bring national documents into line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) specifications.
Somalia’s existing passport system has long been viewed as a weak link in the country’s border controls, with concerns raised over fraudulent documents and limited verification infrastructure. Federal authorities have framed passport reform as part of a broader effort to rebuild core state institutions after decades of conflict and state collapse. The Federal Government of Somalia, seated in Mogadishu, has in recent years worked with international partners to overhaul identification systems, though the rollout of new civil documents has proceeded in stages.
Beyond the passport agenda, ministers took stock of security across the country. Somalia continues to face an insurgency by Al-Shabaab, particularly in rural areas of south-central Somalia, while federal and regional forces, supported by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), conduct ongoing counter-operations. The Council also reviewed economic developments, including federal revenue performance, infrastructure projects and the delivery of public services, all areas where the government has struggled against a backdrop of humanitarian pressures and limited fiscal capacity.
The meeting underscores the federal administration’s intent to pursue institutional reform and international compliance on identity documents while continuing to manage the overlapping security and economic challenges confronting the country.
Sources
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