A major data breach in Somalia's electronic visa system may have exposed personal information belonging to tens of thousands of applicants, including US citizens, the American embassy in Somalia has warned.
The embassy reported credible information that unidentified hackers had penetrated the Somali government's e-visa platform, compromising data from at least 35,000 people. Leaked documents circulating online reportedly include names, photos, birth dates, marital status, home addresses, and email contacts, according to a US embassy statement.
Both the US and UK governments have alerted travelers to the ongoing risks associated with applying for e-visas, emphasizing the potential compromise of personal data through the system.
Consider the risks before applying for an e-visa required for travel to Somalia, the UK warning stated. Somali authorities have not yet commented on the breach, but they have shifted their visa service to a different platform without an official explanation.
The US embassy highlighted that individuals who have applied for a Somali e-visa may be at risk of having their data compromised, even if the embassy cannot confirm individual casualties from the breach.
Somalia's new immigration policy necessitates that all travelers, including those from the self-declared republic of Somaliland and the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, apply for entry visas online. Critics suggest that the system imposes additional fees in certain regions.
The ongoing breach inflames existing tensions between Somalia and Somaliland, especially regarding air traffic control and visa regulations. Somaliland's leaders have openly rejected Somalia's e-visa, insisting that travelers will obtain their visas upon arrival, thereby asserting their governance while contesting Somalia's authority.
The escalation has left some travelers stranded in airports after being barred from boarding flights without the necessary e-visa approvals.
Authorities remain divided on administrative control over airspace management, thereby complicating the travel landscape between these distinct regional entities.
