Somalia Acknowledges E-Visa System Hack, Exposing Thousands of Data
The government of Somalia has acknowledged that thousands of travelers’ personal information was compromised when its electronic visa system was breached.
The government of Somalia has acknowledged that its electronic visa program was compromised, possibly exposing thousands of travelers’ personal data and igniting new worries about the nation’s digital security measures.
The Immigration and Citizenship Agency announced that it has moved the e-visa service to a new website and begun a thorough investigation into the breach. Officials did not provide the precise number of individuals impacted, but they did state that the matter was being treated with “special importance.”
The admission came after warnings from the US and the UK that over 35,000 applicants’ data, including those of US citizens and international people, may have been compromised by the cyberattack.
Last week, social media users started sharing what they said were stolen visa documents, which heightened public interest. The administration has long said that modernizing public services and bolstering security require Somalia’s digital infrastructure, which has been brought to light by the hack.
Renowned computer expert and former telecoms minister Mohamed Ibrahim criticized the government’s response to the event, arguing that officials ought to have been more open from the start. Somaliland officials also charged Mogadishu with “institutional irresponsibility” for continuing to operate the visa system after the cyberattack was discovered.
The hack occurs during a delicate time when tensions over border control and airspace management have risen between Somalia and the self-declared Republic of Somaliland. Diplomatic tension has increased as a result of recent threats from both sides about travel and visa regulations.
