Somalia Confirms Security Breach in eTAS Travel System

By Asha Elmi - Reporter

Somalia, 16 November 2025 — Somalia’s Immigration and Citizenship Agency (HSJ) has confirmed a “criminal and unauthorized breach attempt” targeting parts of the country’s Electronic Travel Authorization System (eTAS), prompting the government to activate an emergency response and launch a national investigation.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the agency said it took “immediate steps” to contain the incident and assess any potential impact on traveler data. The Federal Government has appointed a high-level investigative committee comprising national security agencies, digital-forensics experts and relevant government institutions.

The committee will determine how the attempted intrusion occurred, the source of the breach and the scale of exposure, the agency said. A full report will be released once the investigation is complete.

HSJ said any individuals potentially affected will be notified directly through official government channels. The agency urged travelers and the public to rely solely on its verified communications to avoid misinformation.

“The Immigration and Citizenship Agency regrets this incident and reaffirms that the protection of personal data and national systems remains a top priority,” the statement said, adding that cybersecurity protocols — including updated digital-security standards and multi-factor authentication — are being reinforced across all HSJ services.