Mogadishu, Somalia – The Immigration and Citizenship Authority of Somalia (ICA) hosted a high-level delegation from the United Kingdom’s Home Office and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) for a two-day scoping mission aimed at strengthening border security and migration governance across the Horn of Africa nation.
The delegation toured key operational facilities at the Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, where ongoing reforms to enhance screening, documentation, and data-sharing systems were showcased. Technical teams from both sides held extensive discussions on collaborative frameworks focusing on biometric integration, traveler verification protocols, and countering irregular migration and transnational crime.
The visit underscored London’s growing commitment to supporting Somalia’s state-building efforts through institutional capacity development. Officials explored opportunities for establishing joint training programs for immigration officers, upgrading infrastructure at entry points, and improving coordination on return and resettlement procedures for Somali nationals abroad.
The mission concluded with a diplomatic dinner hosted by ICA Director General Mohamed Aden Duhulow, attended by UK Ambassador to Somalia Charles King. In his remarks, Ambassador King reaffirmed his government’s confidence in Somalia’s reform agenda and expressed readiness to transition discussions into implementable partnerships.
Somali officials welcomed the outcome of the visit, framing it as a strategic boost to national sovereignty and regional stability. With migration pressures and security threats evolving across international borders, both governments signaled intent to sustain structured dialogue and operational cooperation in the months ahead.