Somalia builds national ID system to improve services
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Somalia’s National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) registered 1.5 million citizens for national identification cards between 2023 and September 2026.
Minister of Interior Ali Yusuf Ali Hoosh announced the milestone during an event in Mogadishu, noting the country had previously lacked a formal identification system. The government intends to register a total of 15 million citizens and residents by 2029, prioritizing people with disabilities and displaced communities.
Hoosh explained that the national ID cards will allow citizens to access essential services like travel and public programs. He also stressed the importance of protecting citizens’ data, calling on both government and private organizations to safeguard personal information within the system. The national ID program, called eAqoonsi, began in September 2023. Somalia will soon extend the registration process to its embassies abroad, and the government is encouraging all citizens to register for the free identification cards.
