Somalia’s E-Visa Data Breach: When Digital Ambition Meets Weak Governance

Somalia’s E-Visa Data Breach: When Digital Ambition Meets Weak Governance

Somalia’s push toward digital transformation took a serious hit after a major breach exposed personal data from its newly launched electronic visa (e-visa) system. What was meant to symbolize modernization and improved border security quickly became one of the country’s most damaging digital failures.

Launched in September 2025, the e-visa platform was promoted as part of Somalia’s Digital Public Goods agenda. Officials framed it as a secure, efficient tool to manage travel and reduce security risks. For many applicants, the system initially appeared modern and promising. However, that confidence collapsed when reports emerged that sensitive personal data had been left exposed.

According to preliminary findings, more than 35,000 visa application records may have been compromised. These records reportedly included passport scans and personal information of Somali nationals, diaspora members, and foreign citizens, including individuals from the United States and the United Kingdom. The breach went undetected for weeks, raising serious concerns about monitoring and oversight.

Experts argue that this incident was not the result of a sophisticated cyberattack but rather a failure of basic governance and system management. A misconfigured server, weak access controls, lack of vendor oversight, and absence of continuous security audits reportedly left the system vulnerable. In other words, the digital door was left open.

The consequences extended far beyond technology. International trust was shaken, prompting travel warnings from foreign embassies. Domestically, the breach intensified political tensions, with Puntland and Somaliland rejecting the federal e-visa system over security and constitutional concerns. The government’s quiet decision to change the visa website’s domain without public explanation further fueled suspicion and criticism.

For many Somalis, especially those in the diaspora, the breach reinforced long-standing fears about surveillance, misuse of personal data, and weak institutional accountability. Somalia’s Data Protection Act, passed in 2023, exists on paper, but critics say it lacks strong enforcement mechanisms and clear requirements for independent security audits.

Somalia’s experience highlights a critical lesson for digital transformation efforts: technology cannot succeed without strong institutions. Digital public services must be built on transparency, accountability, and professional oversight. Otherwise, digital tools risk amplifying insecurity rather than reducing it.

As Somalia continues to roll out major digital systems for identity, payments, and public services, the e-visa breach stands as a warning. Until responsibility is clearly established and trust restored, digital progress will remain fragile.