MOGADISHU, Somalia – President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia stated that members of the Al-Shabaab group can acquire national identity cards as part of the Somalia’s ongoing modernization efforts in the security sector, which is experiencing reforms.
At a conference in Mogadishu, President Mohamud noted that Al-Shabaab members have told security agencies they are prepared to enroll in the new identification initiative nationwide.
“Let them take it; their fingerprints and faces will be recognized. They are Somali citizens who have turned to terrorism,” he remarked with a laugh.
President Mohamud explained that the national ID program would enhance security, stimulate the economy, and combat terrorism, money laundering, and other crimes. It would also stop criminals from traveling overseas and endangering other nations, he noted.
“Let every Al-Shabaab member step forward, whether veiled or capped, and get the national ID. They are Somali citizens who became terrorists; they should come and get it. We see no issue with that,” he stated at the 2nd Somali National ID Conference.
Moving ahead, he indicated, services would be available only to registered citizens, warning that those who skip enrollment would be viewed as supporting terrorism or crime and held responsible. He encouraged Somalis to enroll and seize what he described as a vital national chance.
He admitted to corruption in the registration process, condemning those who sell entry tickets to ID centers or intentionally cause long lines.
“Those seeking profit by hindering people who abandon their work to register will not gain lawful income,” he declared.
Yet his suggestion that Al-Shabaab members register for ID cards has drawn backlash, as security experts argue it might undermine efforts to combat Al-Shabaab domestically.
The President affirmed that citizenship rights apply to all Somalis, including militants, sparking criticism from opposition leaders and security observers. The remarks came after prolonged government pushes to broaden participation in the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) system.
