Domestic flights between Mogadishu and Puntland faced disruptions on Thursday morning as Somalia's federal government began enforcing a requirement for domestic travelers to carry the NIRA national identity card. Passengers on a Freedom Airlines flight from Garowe to Mogadishu and Nairobi were informed at the airport that they could not travel without the national ID card. This move has caused inconvenience to many passengers.
Puntland, one of the regions where the NIRA card is not currently issued, has been particularly affected by this new requirement. The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) does not maintain registration offices in Puntland, leaving residents without the opportunity to obtain the card. As a result, some passengers were forced to return from the airport.
In September, NIRA announced that people without the national identity card would not be able to travel between regions of the country starting October 1, 2026. The agency urged the public to register at its centers and obtain the card. This move is part of a larger effort to implement a national identification system in Somalia.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has emphasized the importance of the NIRA card, stating that it will become essential for accessing several public services, including travel, passports, bank accounts, and telecommunications services. He warned that people without national identification would face difficulties accessing some services in the future.
The enforcement of the NIRA ID requirement has raised concerns in Puntland, where residents have not yet had the opportunity to register in the NIRA system. The situation has already affected people seeking to travel between Puntland and Mogadishu, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive registration process.
According to NIRA, over 1.5 million Somali citizens have been registered since 2023, with the government aiming to register 15 million citizens and residents by 2029. Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation Minister Ali Yusuf Ali Hoosh recently stated that Somalia had moved beyond the period when it lacked a formal national identification system.
The implementation of the NIRA ID requirement is expected to have a significant impact on the lives of Somali citizens, particularly in regions like Puntland where the card is not yet widely available. As the government continues to roll out the national identification system, residents are advised to register and obtain the card to avoid disruptions to their daily lives.
Key points
- Somalia's federal government has begun enforcing a requirement for domestic travelers to carry the NIRA national identity card.
- Puntland residents are particularly affected by the new requirement, as the NIRA card is not currently issued in the region.
- The government aims to register 15 million citizens and residents by 2029.
