Somalia’s Immigration and Citizenship Authority began enforcing a requirement that all passengers on domestic flights present a valid national identity card, marking one of the most visible steps in the country’s effort to rebuild civil registration systems after decades of conflict.
The measure took effect March 1, 2026 after a two-month delay. The policy had originally been set to begin January 1, 2026, but authorities postponed enforcement to allow citizens additional time to register with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). Mustafa Sheikh Ahmed Dhuxulow, director of the authority, oversaw the rollout.
NIRA issues the national identity card, which collects face and fingerprint biometric data along with a digitized signature. As of the enforcement date, nearly one million Somalis had received cards. Officials say the ID system is designed to create a centralized, verifiable citizen database that government agencies can use to authenticate identities across public services and security functions.
Authorities described the domestic flight requirement as a step toward strengthening passenger identity verification and improving coordination between aviation administrators and security agencies. By standardizing identity checks at airports, the government aims to reduce reliance on inconsistent documentation and move domestic travel practices closer to regional and international standards.
The mandate extends a pattern of Somalia progressively expanding the uses to which the national ID is legally required. The government earlier extended the national ID requirement to banking in the Benadir region, where residents in Mogadishu and surrounding areas must present the card to open or update bank accounts. Somalia also launched three digital identity platforms in 2025 to support citizen authentication and official document issuance across a broader range of services.
Somalia relaunched its national biometric identity program in 2023 after a long gap, collecting face and fingerprint data from citizens as part of a formal registration process managed by NIRA. The government’s stated goal is to register 15 million Somalis for the national ID by the end of 2026.
Officials have framed the national ID program as foundational to governance reform, enabling agencies to reliably link individuals to records across social services, law enforcement, and travel oversight.
Sources: Hiiraan Online, Axadle Times
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
