Somalia Confirms Visa Data Breach, Announces Probe

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Somalia’s Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA) has confirmed a security breach targeting parts of the country’s electronic travel authorization system (e-TAS), prompting an immediate shutdown of affected components and a national investigation.

In a statement issued Sunday, the agency said it discovered “an unlawful attempt” to access traveller data. Officials responded by suspending compromised sections of the system and initiating an internal review to limit any potential damage.

The government has convened a high-level investigative task force that brings together national security agencies, digital forensics specialists, and state institutions responsible for data protection. The team has been tasked with determining the scale of the breach, its origin, and any security implications.

According to ICA, a full report outlining verified findings and corrective actions will be released once the official investigation is complete.

The agency said anyone who may have been affected will be notified directly through official government channels. It also urged the public and international travellers to rely solely on ICA’s verified communication platforms to avoid misinformation.

ICA expressed regret over the incident and stressed that safeguarding personal information “remains the highest priority.” The agency said it is strengthening its digital security framework, including upgrading data-protection infrastructure and implementing multi-factor authentication across all services.