Kinshasa, DRC – Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have taken a notable step toward easing mobility for Somali citizens, following a high-level meeting in Kinshasa between Somalia’s Ambassador to Tanzania, the DRC, and the East African Community, Ilyas Ali Hassan, and DRC Immigration Authority Director General Roland Kashwantale Chihoza.
The discussion, according to the Somali mission, went beyond routine diplomatic engagement. It was driven by a growing recognition that Somali travelers—business people, students, and families dispersed across the region—continue to face cumbersome procedures that slow movement and limit opportunity. In the meeting, both sides focused on widening visa access, cutting down processing delays, and finding practical ways to align their immigration systems.
Part of the conversation centered on modernizing how both governments share information. Officials noted that smoother migration management depends on reliable, timely data exchange between agencies, especially as cross-border movement in East and Central Africa continues to rise. Strengthening these channels, they agreed, could help reduce bottlenecks and build trust between institutions.
Amb. Hassan used the occasion to highlight Somalia’s broader regional ambitions. With the country stepping up its diplomatic outreach and its diaspora increasingly active across African markets, he emphasized the need for friendlier travel frameworks that reflect Somalia’s evolving role in the region.
Chihoza, for his part, signaled the DRC’s readiness to collaborate, acknowledging the benefits of closer engagement and more predictable procedures.
The talks form part of Somalia’s wider effort to secure flexible mobility for its citizens as it deepens ties with neighboring states. For many Somalis scattered across East and Central Africa, the progress made in Kinshasa offers a glimpse of a future where movement is less of a hurdle and more of a bridge between communities.