By Abdullahi Salaad - Reporter
Mogadishu (Dawan Africa) – The Central Bank of Somalia (CBS), in collaboration with the National Identification & Registration Authority (NIRA) and the Somali Bankers Association, has issued a public notice on Tuesday, 29th July 2025, mandating all commercial banks to enforce enhanced customer identification measures starting 1st September 2025.
The directive is grounded in the CBS regulation on Electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) and a Memorandum of Understanding signed between CBS and NIRA aimed at “strengthening identity verification standards in the banking sector.”
As stated in the official announcement:
“No new bank account shall be opened without the presentation of a valid National Identification (ID) issued by NIRA.”
“Renewal or updating of existing accounts shall only be permitted upon confirmation of a valid National ID issued by NIRA.”
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To support implementation, “designated NIRA service points will be available within selected branches of each bank and NIRA offices in Mogadishu to allow customers to register, and collect their National ID.”
The notice emphasized the purpose of the changes as follows:
“These measures represent a critical step toward strengthening financial integrity, preventing identity fraud, and ensuring broader access to secure and reliable banking services.”
CBS also clarified that:
“The enhanced customer identification standards will take effect for bank customers in the Banadir region starting 01st September 2025, and will subsequently be rolled out across the rest of the country.”
