TECH & INNOVATION
Somalia E-Visa data breach exposes personal information of 35,000 travelers
A major cybersecurity breach in Somalia’s electronic visa system has exposed the personal data of nearly 35,000 travelers, raising significant concerns about the country’s digital security infrastructure and the safety of international visitors.
Enos Denhere
MOGADISHU, Somalia, 11 Nov 2025, (Running Africa) According to Africa Business Insider, the compromised records include citizens from Somalia, South Africa, Uganda, Ethiopia, and—most notably—Kenya, which accounted for more than 13,000 affected applicants.
Somalia’s Immigration and Citizenship Agency has launched an investigation and rapidly migrated its e-visa services to a new platform. Officials said the incident is being treated with “special importance,” though they declined to confirm the full number of individuals impacted.
The U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu revealed that the breach occurred on November 11, potentially exposing tens of thousands of applicants’ sensitive information. On November 14, the UK government issued a similar advisory, warning that the breach was ongoing and that any personal data submitted to the system remained vulnerable. Both embassies urged travelers to reconsider applying for Somali e-visas until the system is fully secured.
Public alarm intensified after alleged leaked records circulated widely on social media, drawing scrutiny to a digital infrastructure the Somali government has long promoted as essential to improving border security and modernizing public services.
An investigation by Somaliland Chronicle confirmed that the leaked data included passport numbers, full names, birth dates, passport photos, and banking information—a combination that experts say could enable extensive identity theft and financial exploitation.
Cybersecurity analysts warn that the stolen data is already circulating in underground criminal networks. They caution that the information could be used for fraud, impersonation, or even exploited by extremist groups like Al-Shabaab, making this one of the most severe cyber incidents to affect international travelers in East Africa in recent years.
As Somalia works to restore trust in its digital systems, the breach has renewed calls for stronger cybersecurity safeguards across the region, where governments increasingly rely on online portals for immigration, taxation, and public services.
