Somalia Advances Third-Generation E-Passport As Cabinet Approves Trade Bill

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia’s cabinet has reviewed plans for the introduction of a third-generation polycarbonate electronic passport designed to strengthen document security and facilitate international travel, as the government presses ahead with wider reforms to modernise public services and state institutions.

During its weekly meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, the Council of Ministers received a progress report from the Ministry of Internal Security on the new passport system, which officials said would incorporate enhanced security features and permanently end the practice of altering holders’ personal information after issuance, a measure aimed at improving the credibility of Somali travel documents.

The government said the upgraded e-passport is expected to streamline passport issuance while making the document more secure and internationally reliable.

The cabinet also approved a draft Bill on Rules of Origin submitted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, legislation intended to establish the legal framework for determining the origin of goods in international trade. Economists say such measures are important for implementing trade agreements, preventing fraudulent imports and supporting Somalia’s ambitions to expand regional and global commerce.

In a separate presentation, senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office outlined the performance of government ministries during the first half of the year and presented plans for an electronic Cabinet management system intended to digitise government decision-making and improve administrative efficiency.

Prime Minister Hamza also briefed ministers on his recent visit to Somalia’s Northeastern State, where he met regional leaders and community representatives, and welcomed the conduct of local elections in Galmudug, describing them as an important step in Somalia’s ongoing electoral process.

He further urged ministers and senior government officials to use Somali passports during official travel, saying doing so would help strengthen the document’s international standing and reinforce confidence in national institutions.

The cabinet also approved a change in the Judicial Service Commission after a recommendation from the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, replacing Ali Macalin with legal expert Aadan Kuuloow Macalin Qaasim.

The meeting comes as Somalia accelerates institutional reforms following debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and seeks to modernise public administration, strengthen border and identity management, and improve governance as part of broader state-building efforts.

The rollout of a more secure electronic passport is also expected to support efforts to combat document fraud and enhance international recognition of Somali travel documents, an issue that has long affected the mobility of Somali citizens.