🔗 Share this article United States and United Kingdom Alert of Substantial Digital Visa Information Leak in Federal Republic of Somalia Somali Presidential Palace Approximately 35,000 people could be affected, warns the US embassy A significant information leak in the Somali electronic visa system potentially disclosed sensitive details belonging to many thousands of travelers, comprising United States passport holders, the American embassy in Somalia has cautioned. Officials stated obtained trustworthy accounts that "anonymous digital intruders" had penetrated the Somali government's digital visa application portal, potentially compromising data from approximately 35,000 people. The exposed records circulating online contain personal identifiers, photos, birth dates, marital status, residential locations and email information, as stated in a United States official announcement issued on last Thursday. "This information compromise remains active and could expose all private information you enter into this platform," United Kingdom officials has additionally cautioned travellers. "Evaluate the dangers when considering application for a digital visa required for visiting the Somali nation." Official Reaction Federal administration representatives have remained silent on the breach. Nevertheless authorities has moved visa application system from the previous platform the original e-visa website to the new system the new application website, without issuing an official explanation. "Although Embassy Mogadishu is unable to confirm if personal information is included in the security incident, travelers who have requested visas via the digital application platform might be compromised," the US' statement said. Territorial Consequences The updated visa process requires all travellers, incorporating applicants from the independently governed area of the northern territory and the partially independent area of Puntland, to seek travel visas via electronic platforms. Critics say travellers have faced additional charges in specific areas, totaling duplicate payments. Geopolitical Background The self-declared republic, which declared independence in the early nineties, administers its affairs through independent structures yet hasn't received global recognition. Somalia asserts that the area still constitutes its sovereign territory. The alleged breach contributes to long-running tensions between central government and northern authorities over control of national air territory. Even though Mogadishu restored complete authority of national aviation space in 2017, Hargeisa administration continues to contest this agreement. Ongoing Conflict The dispute intensified in recent days when Hargeisa's chief executive Abdirahman Irro stated Somaliland would reject the federal e-visa system and directed that aviation companies are required to secure permission from Somaliland officials when approaching its airspace. However leading carriers have refused to board passengers absent Mogadishu's electronic permit. On Saturday, Hargeisa's international relations official Abdirahman Dahir Aadan reiterated that "every person entering the northern territory will obtain travel authorization on arrival", declaring Mogadishu's digital application process lacked security and warning that "people's data could be accessed by extremist organizations" due to using it. Aviation Challenges The stand-off has resulted in certain visitors heading to Hargeisa stuck in transit hubs due to rejection at check-in because they didn't have Somalia's e-visa. Hargeisa's air transport representative, Fu'aad Ahmed Nuux, has stated to journalistic entities that the directives - initially declared in recent months - became operational on November 10th. Officials declared companies that ignore will be told to divert, and asserted numerous flights had been forced to change paths. Airspace Control Conflict Footage published by Somaliland's aviation ministry appears to show regional aviation officials providing guidance to foreign aircraft commanders - a development applauded locally as a confirmation of the region's independence. Nevertheless the federal aviation regulator asserts it maintains exclusive regulatory authority regarding the federal aviation control area (FIR), which covers the entire country's aviation space. Authorities have instructed all aircraft to ignore all directives provided by sources besides central government. Authorities alerted that not adhering to national and worldwide air transport standards could generate safety risks and result in "major judicial outcomes".