🔗 Share this article United States and United Kingdom Warn of Substantial Electronic Visa Data Breach in Federal Republic of Somalia Villa Somalia Approximately 35,000 people could be affected, cautions the American embassy A significant security compromise in the Somali digital visa application system may have exposed private data pertaining to tens of thousands of applicants, comprising US citizens, the American embassy in Somalia has alerted. It said had received trustworthy accounts that "unidentified hackers" compromised the Federal Government of Somalia's electronic visa system, likely endangering information belonging to approximately 35,000 people. The leaked documents distributed through digital channels comprise names, photos, birth dates, marriage information, place of residence and email information, according to a United States official announcement issued on last Thursday. "This security incident remains active and potentially disclose any personal data submitted to the application portal," British authorities has similarly alerted travellers. "Evaluate the dangers before applying for an e-visa mandatory for entry into Somalia." Government Response Federal administration representatives have not issued statements about the security compromise. Nevertheless the government has shifted its visa service away from the initial application portal toward the new application website, without offering an official explanation. "Although American diplomatic mission in Somalia is unable to confirm whether applicant details is part of the breach, travelers who have requested visas for a Somali e-visa could be impacted," the US' statement stated. Territorial Consequences Somalia's new system requires all travellers, comprising individuals from the autonomous region of the breakaway region and the self-governing territory of the autonomous state, to seek admission permits online. Opponents claim travellers have faced extra fees in certain regions, totaling double charges. Geopolitical Background Somaliland, which declared independence in three decades ago, manages its territory with its own institutions but has not been worldwide acceptance. Somalia asserts that this territory still constitutes its sovereign territory. The alleged breach adds to long-running tensions concerning Somali federal authorities and Hargeisa regarding authority over aviation space. While Somalia restored full control of national aviation space in recent years, northern authorities persistently challenges the current system. Ongoing Conflict The dispute escalated further in recent days when the northern region's leader the Somaliland president stated Somaliland would refuse Mogadishu's electronic visa and instructed that aviation companies must obtain authorization from Hargeisa before entering its airspace. Yet prominent aviation companies have chosen not to process individuals without Mogadishu's electronic permit. On Saturday, the northern region's top diplomat the diplomatic representative again insisted that "anyone travelling to the breakaway region can acquire travel authorization upon landing", saying Mogadishu's digital application process lacked security and cautioning that "people's data can fall into extremist organizations" because of using it. Passenger Complications The impasse has caused certain visitors traveling to the northern region stranded at airports after being denied boarding for lacking Somalia's e-visa. Hargeisa's air transport representative, Fu'aad Ahmed Nuux, has stated to media outlets that the instructions - initially declared earlier this year - were implemented on November 10th. Officials declared airlines that do not comply would be instructed to change course, and asserted several aircraft were previously redirected. Jurisdictional Battle Recorded material distributed by the northern region's air transport department seems to demonstrate local air-traffic controllers issuing instructions to foreign aircraft commanders - a move celebrated domestically as a demonstration of the region's independence. But the federal aviation regulator asserts it maintains complete jurisdictional power over the national airspace information zone (Flight Information Region), encompassing all territorial skies. Officials have directed every plane to disregard all directives provided by entities except Mogadishu. It warned that ignoring Somali and international aviation rules could create security threats and result in "significant legal repercussions".