Mogadishu, Somalia — Thr Immigration and Citizenship Authority (ICA) of Somalia is facing mounting criticism following the rollout of new visa regulations that require travelers holding foreign passports to apply online before entering the country.
The directive, introduced quietly last week, has triggered widespread debate over whether the policy infringes on the constitutional rights of Somali citizens and risks alienating the country’s vast diaspora community.
According to ICA, the measure is intended to “streamline entry procedures, strengthen border management, and enhance national security.” However, critics argue that the policy effectively treats Somalis with dual nationality as foreigners, despite their legal citizenship status.
“This is not just a bureaucratic inconvenience. It raises fundamental questions about whether Somalis who hold foreign passports are being stripped of their rights,” said a Mogadishu-based lawyer who specializes in constitutional law. “The constitution guarantees equal treatment to all citizens, regardless of their residency or other affiliations,” added the lawyer.
The controversy carries significant economic implications. Somalia’s diaspora, many of whom travel frequently between their adopted countries and Somalia, send nearly $2 billion in remittances annually — a lifeline that accounts for roughly one-quarter of the nation’s GDP. Observers warn that burdensome entry requirements could discourage visits, investment, and financial support.
The issue is also politically sensitive, as many sitting government officials, ministers, and even former presidents hold dual citizenship or foreign passports. “If enforced rigidly, this policy could affect those in leadership as much as the ordinary diaspora,” one political analyst noted.
So far, the federal government has not clarified whether Somalis with foreign passports will receive exemptions or preferential treatment under the new rules. Calls are growing for ICA to suspend the measure until a legal review is completed.
Civil society groups and opposition leaders have urged President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration to intervene, warning that the policy risks eroding trust between the state and its global diaspora network.
“The diaspora has carried Somalia through conflict, drought, and economic collapse,” said one critic. “Shutting them out now, even symbolically, sends the wrong message at the wrong time.”
The debate comes as Somalia continues to navigate delicate political reforms, fragile security gains, and efforts to expand investment opportunities. Analysts say mishandling diaspora relations could add to the government’s already complex challenges.