For more than forty years, Somali families around the world have lived with the long-term consequences of state-led violence, persecution and displacement. Communities from Puntland and Somaliland suffered immensely during the 1980s, when the former Somali regime carried out severe campaigns across the north. In Somaliland, cities such as Hargeisa and Burao were bombed in 1988, destroying neighbourhoods and killing many. In Puntland, villages were burned, wells were poisoned, women were raped and families were subjected to political persecution, arbitrary arrests and the destruction of property. These events forced entire families to flee, many eventually resettling in countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and across Europe.

The suffering continued with the collapse of the central government in 1991 and the outbreak of civil war in Mogadishu. Many escaped ethnic killings and intense urban conflict. Thousands who fled Mogadishu never returned, choosing instead to rebuild their lives in Somaliland or Puntland, regions that developed stability and functioning administrations at a time when the south remained insecure. Over more than three decades, Somaliland and Puntland have remained peaceful and have become safe destinations where diaspora families visit parents, children, relatives and cultural roots. For countless families, visiting these regions is not tourism. It is essential for maintaining family bonds and community support.

Somaliland and Puntland operate entirely outside the control of the Somali Federal Government. Somaliland declared independence in 1991 and has its own government, immigration system, passport, visa policy and secure airports. Puntland, although not seeking independence yet, has been self-governing since 1998 with its own security structures, immigration authority and administrative systems. In March and April 2024, Puntland announced it cut ties with current Somalia federal government after the federal parliament approved controversial constitutional amendments designed by current government without consensus. Since then, Puntland has governed independently, and the Somali Federal Government holds no authority over Puntland’s or Somaliland’s airports and borders.

There is also longstanding mistrust due to strained relations between the Federal Government and regional administrations. The Federal Government has politicised essential development projects and restricted aid to Puntland and Somaliland. A recent example is, its failure to support Puntland in its long campaign against Daesh militants in the remote mountain areas. Puntland’s forces and local communities with the help from diaspora community, achieved major victories without any federal assistance. This history has reinforced the belief that revenue collected through the federal e-Visa will not be shared fairly with Puntland or Somaliland. For many diaspora families, the federal e-Visa feels like political punishment rather than a legitimate administrative requirement.

Due to disagreements between federal government and Jubaland state, there have been occasions when the Somali Federal Government restricted internal flights to Kismayo in Jubaland and parts of Gedo, leaving people unable to travel for urgent medical care. Pregnant women with complications, critically ill patients and families trying to reach loved ones were harmed by these decisions. These actions showed how air travel controls have been used in ways that put lives at risk and caused unnecessary suffering.

Puntland and Somaliland rely on their own visa and entry fees because they are fully responsible for operating, staffing and securing their airports. It is their authorities who employ immigration officers, security personnel, airfield maintenance teams, runway safety staff and all the workers who ensure that travellers arrive and depart safely. These fees fund essential services. If travellers are discouraged from visiting due to unnecessary federal e-Visa demands, the impact on local employment and the wider economy is significant. Fewer arrivals mean reduced income for airport workers, technicians, safety teams and the many small businesses that depend on passenger traffic. This is about the ability of Puntland and Somaliland to maintain safe, functioning airports and support local livelihoods.

Against this background, the requirement for Somali diaspora travellers worldwide to apply for the Federal Government’s e-Visa has caused serious concern. Airlines have been instructed by the Somali Federal Government to enforce the e-Visa on all passengers travelling to areas controlled by Somali Federal government , and those going only to Somaliland or Puntland. This has forced passengers in Europe, North America and Oceania to apply for a federal e-Visa even when they are not travelling to federal territory. Passengers must then pay again for a visa on arrival in Somaliland or Puntland. A family of six may pay approximately 744 US dollars in unnecessary fees. This has caused distress and hardship, and many families have cancelled travel to visit elderly or dying relatives.

Even more concerning is the recent data breach in the Somali federal e-Visa system. Sensitive information was exposed, including passport details, home addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, birth information, family information, travel histories and even credit and debit card details. These categories of data place individuals at risk of identity theft, fraud, cybercrime and extortion. Many Somali diaspora families fled persecution in the past, and being forced to use an unsafe system has caused significant fear and emotional distress. They feel retraumatised by the possibility that their private information could fall into the wrong hands including terrorists.

The Terms and Conditions on the federal e-Visa website state that the government accepts no responsibility for data loss, technical failures, incorrect decisions or delays. Applicants must consent to their information being used and shared without explanation or safeguards. These terms would be unacceptable under UK GDPR, EU GDPR, Canadian privacy law, Australian privacy regulation and other international data protection standards.

Airlines and their regulating countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia,  Qatar and Kenya, have been placed in a difficult position because they follow the entry rules communicated to them by the Somali Federal Government. However, airlines operating flights to Somaliland and Puntland should reconsider their enforcement of the federal e-Visa. Travellers to both regions receive visas on arrival, and strict enforcement of the federal system is unnecessary and harmful. Airlines risk losing passengers if they continue to apply a rule that does not reflect the legal or administrative reality on the ground. Regulators in the above countries should also review these requirements to ensure that passengers are treated fairly and safely.

While we welcome the fact that at least one airline has now begun lifting the federal e-Visa requirement for passengers travelling to Somaliland, the same consideration must also be extended to travellers heading to Puntland, who face identical challenges. At present, implementation appears uneven and may vary between airports, countries and carriers. We therefore encourage those signing this petition to support efforts to ensure that this positive development is confirmed clearly and applied consistently across all airlines and all routes, so that travellers to both Somaliland and Puntland are not subjected to uncertainty or conflicting instructions at check-in.

We therefore call on the governments of the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and European countries, as well as the governments that regulate airlines operating in Somali airspace, including the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Turkey, Qatar and Kenya, to act urgently. Somali diaspora passengers must not be forced to use an unsafe digital system that they do not trust. Airlines should allow passengers travelling directly to Somaliland and Puntland to board with confidence, since visas are issued on arrival and the regions manage their own immigration systems. The Somali Federal Government must stop compelling people to use an insecure platform and must take responsibility for the consequences of its neglect.

We request:

• An immediate international investigation into the federal e-Visa system and its data security failures.
• Updated travel guidance from Western governments clarifying that the federal e-Visa is not required for travel to Puntland or Somaliland.
• Clear instructions to airlines to permit boarding for passengers travelling to these regions without a federal e-Visa.
• Strong protection of the personal data of affected citizens in Europe, North America and Oceania.
• Diplomatic engagement with the Somali Federal Government demanding accountability and safe data handling.
• Recognition of the historical trauma experienced by diaspora families and their right to travel safely to the regions where their families reside.
• This petition is not political. It is about privacy, safety and the right of families across the world to visit loved ones in Somaliland and Puntland without fear, financial pressure or data exposure.
•  We ask governments, regulators and airlines to respond now and ensure that Somali diaspora communities can travel with dignity and confidence.

More Information could be found:

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/somalia/entry-requirements

https://so.usembassy.gov/alert-federal-republic-of-somalia-fgs-electronic-visa-e-visa-data-breach/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c620e43z2q5o

 Thank you for taking action and supporting the safety and dignity of Somali travellers.