🔗 Share this article US and UK Caution of Substantial Digital Visa Data Breach in Somalia Somali Presidential Palace At least 35,000 applicants might be affected, cautions the US embassy A substantial security compromise in the Federal Republic of Somalia's e-visa platform potentially disclosed sensitive details pertaining to tens of thousands of applicants, involving American nationals, the US embassy in Somalia has cautioned. Officials stated gathered trustworthy accounts that "unidentified hackers" compromised the Somali government's e-visa platform, potentially compromising details concerning approximately 35,000 people. The exposed records circulating online contain full names, images, date of birth information, relationship status, place of residence and email information, as stated in a United States official announcement released on Thursday. "This information compromise is ongoing and might reveal any personal data you enter into the system," the UK has similarly alerted travelers. "Assess the potential threats prior to requesting an electronic visa necessary for entry into the Federal Republic." Government Response Government officials have not commented about the security compromise. However administration officials has shifted visa processing from the previous platform evisa.gov.so to the new system the new application website, without providing an official explanation. "Even though Embassy Mogadishu cannot verify if personal information is included in the breach, travelers who have requested visas via the digital application platform could be impacted," the US' statement stated. Regional Implications The updated visa process mandates all travellers, incorporating applicants from the autonomous region of the northern territory and the semi-autonomous region of the autonomous state, to request travel visas through digital means. Commentators state applicants have experienced extra fees in particular territories, amounting to repeated fees. Political Context The self-declared republic, that announced sovereignty in the early nineties, manages its territory through independent structures but has not been worldwide acceptance. Somalia maintains that the region still constitutes its sovereign territory. The alleged breach exacerbates ongoing disputes involving Mogadishu and Hargeisa concerning jurisdiction of aviation space. Although Somalia re-established total jurisdiction of territorial skies in the past decade, Somaliland continues to contest the arrangement. Ongoing Conflict The dispute worsened this week after the northern region's leader the regional leader stated Somaliland would not accept Somalia's e-visa and instructed that carriers must obtain clearance from northern authorities prior to accessing its airspace. Yet major airlines have declined to process individuals without federal visa authorization. On Saturday, Hargeisa's international relations official the foreign minister again insisted that "anyone travelling to the breakaway region will obtain entry permission upon landing", stating Mogadishu's digital application process was not safe and cautioning that "individual details can fall into extremist organizations" as a result of using it. Aviation Challenges The impasse has resulted in certain visitors destined for Hargeisa stranded at airports after being denied boarding due to absence of the federal electronic visa. The northern region's aviation official, the aviation minister, has told media outlets that the regulations - initially declared earlier this year - were implemented on 10 November. Officials declared airlines that do not comply will be told to reroute, and stated several aircraft were previously redirected. Airspace Control Conflict Footage distributed by Hargeisa's civil aviation authority reportedly displays regional aviation officials issuing instructions to foreign aircraft commanders - a development celebrated domestically as an assertion of Somaliland's autonomy. Nevertheless the federal aviation regulator insists it maintains complete jurisdictional power over the federal aviation control area (Flight Information Region), which covers all territorial skies. It has ordered all aircraft to ignore any guidance provided by authorities other than federal authorities. Authorities alerted that failing to comply with federal and global flight regulations could generate aviation dangers and cause "serious legal consequences".