Somalia Enforces National ID for Domestic Travel, Puntland Residents Stranded

MOGADISHU — Domestic flights between Mogadishu and Puntland were disrupted on Thursday morning after Somalia’s federal government began enforcing a requirement that domestic travelers carry a National ID card issued by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA).

Passengers scheduled to travel on a Freedom Airlines flight from Garowe to Mogadishu and Nairobi were told at the airport that they could not proceed because they did not have the NIRA-issued identification document. Some passengers returned from the airport after being unable to board, according to accounts from travelers.

The disruption affected people traveling for work and medical appointments. Puntland is among the regions where the NIRA card is not currently issued, as the agency does not maintain registration offices there.

The New Requirement

NIRA announced in September that beginning October 1, 2026, citizens traveling within Somalia would be required to carry either a National ID card or a National Identification Certificate for identity verification. The measure follows an agreement reached between NIRA and the Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA) on June 30, 2026.

The domestic travel requirement is part of a broader expansion of the national ID system. As reported in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the domestic travel mandate, the government launched mandatory implementation of the National ID Card for all domestic travel in March 2026, with biometric verification enforced for passengers.

The National ID has also been linked to passport applications. As detailed in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the passport requirement, starting July 1, 2026, all citizens must present a National ID Card or proof of NIRA registration to obtain a Somali passport.

Implementation Challenges

The disruption at Garowe airport highlights a practical challenge facing Somalia as it expands its national identification system: making the new requirement enforceable while ensuring citizens across the country can obtain the documents needed to travel.

As reported in FTL Somalia’s coverage of NIRA’s progress, card issuance remains pending in Puntland, Somaliland, and Jubbaland states due to political, administrative, or technical obstacles. Some regional administrations have not authorized the process to start in their areas. Puntland has firmly rejected the federal government’s centralization of the ID system, with President Said Abdullahi Deni signing a decree creating the Puntland Identification Authority (PID) to issue ID cards independent of NIRA, as detailed in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the registration rollout.

NIRA has stated it is committed to making registration accessible, including through mobile teams deployed to IDP camps and hard-to-reach communities. The agency has registered over one million Somalis and aims to reach 15 million citizens by 2029.

Critical Note

The enforcement of the NIRA ID requirement for domestic travel represents a significant expansion of Somalia’s identity infrastructure. The government’s stated objectives, strengthening identity verification, reducing fraud, and creating a unified system for accessing services, are legitimate. A functioning national identity system is essential for effective governance.

However, the disruption at Garowe airport exposes a fundamental implementation gap. The federal government has mandated a requirement that residents in Puntland cannot fulfill because NIRA does not operate registration offices in the region. This is not a failure of individual travelers. It is a failure of sequencing. The government should have ensured that registration services were available nationwide before enforcing a requirement that effectively bars travel for those without access to the system.

The political dimension is also significant. Puntland has formally rejected the NIRA system, arguing that it was introduced without the consensus of Federal Member States. By enforcing the requirement in a region that has not participated in the system, the federal government risks deepening political tensions and creating a practical crisis for Puntland residents who need to travel for work, medical care, or family obligations.

The government has urged citizens to obtain the National ID before traveling. But in Puntland, that option is not available. Until NIRA registration services are operational across all regions, the enforcement of this requirement will create inequities that undermine the very legitimacy the system is meant to build.