The country’s Immigration and Citizenship Agency confirmed the breach and said it has moved the e-visa platform to a new website while an investigation is underway. Officials described the incident as a high priority, but did not specify how many people were affected.
The disclosure follows warnings from the United States and the United Kingdom, which reported that data from more than 35,000 visa applicants including foreign nationals and American citizens may have been compromised.
The hack gained widespread attention last week after social media accounts began circulating what they said were leaked records. The incident has renewed questions about the security of Somalia’s digital systems, which the government has promoted as essential to strengthening national security.
Former telecommunications minister Mohamed Ibrahim criticized authorities for what he called a lack of transparency. Leaders in Somaliland also condemned Mogadishu’s handling of the situation, accusing the government of “institutional irresponsibility” for keeping the platform online after the breach.
The cyberattack comes amid rising tensions between Somalia and Somaliland over control of airspace, border systems, and travel rules a dispute that has led to fresh warnings from both sides.
