Mogadishu (Dawan Africa) – On Wednesday, Somalia’s Ministry of Finance directed all international airlines operating in the country to submit passenger manifests and ticket price information exclusively through the newly introduced digital system, SOMCAS, marking a shift away from manual reporting methods.
The directive, issued by the Director General of Revenue, is part of the government’s broader modernization agenda under existing tax and customs legislation. The ministry said the move is designed to strengthen transparency, improve revenue collection, and close gaps in tax compliance within the aviation sector.
“Airlines are strongly required to submit complete data on all passengers traveling abroad, along with their ticket prices, to ensure transparent accountability,” the circular stated.
According to the order, airlines are required to register with SOMCAS immediately and provide their public IP addresses if accessing the system from abroad. Passenger data and ticket prices must be submitted digitally to the Customs Department.
“The penalty regulation will be applied to any party failing to comply with the tax laws,” the directive warned.
“All airlines are hereby ordered to comply with this directive, which will facilitate operations for both the airlines and the government,” it added.
Officials emphasized that the reform is intended to simplify operations while ensuring accurate tax accountability in one of the country’s fastest-growing sectors.
The Ministry of Finance has recently pursued several digital reforms aimed at reducing dependency on manual processes, a step seen as crucial to Somalia’s wider financial governance and state-building efforts.
