Monday January 27, 2025

Mogadishu (HOL) – The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has dismissed reports claiming that the new national ID cards are being explicitly printed for Somalia’s upcoming one-person, one-vote elections. 

Speaking to BBC Somali on Sunday, NIRA Director General Abdiwali Ali Abdulle Timacade clarified that the ID card project is unrelated to the elections. Instead, it aims to provide a lifelong identification tool for Somali citizens. 

“We are working on an identity card that citizens will have for the rest of their lives. It is essential both before and after the elections,” Timacade explained. He emphasized that while the electoral commission may use the IDs for voter verification, the cards are designed for broader purposes, including facilitating travel and access to government services. 

Timacade added that the government’s priorities extend beyond elections, underscoring the importance of establishing a reliable identification system to support long-term national development. 

The World Bank is funding the national ID card project with technical assistance from the Pakistani government. Timacade assured that the ID card database is secure, with stringent measures to prevent unauthorized access. 

“We have the process and the data of the Somali people. It is very secure, and no one else can access it,” he stated. 

The rollout of Somalia’s new national ID cards marks a significant step toward empowering citizens and improving access to essential services, legal rights, and opportunities. 

Somalia’s progress in establishing robust national systems comes amid its recent membership in the East African Community (EAC). After a long campaign, Somalia officially joined the EAC in March 2024, becoming the eighth member alongside Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania.