Somalia Eyes Global Travel Reform in Talks with Norway and Finland

GOOBJOOG NEWS |MOGADISHU: Somalia has taken a significant step toward modernizing its immigration and border control systems following a high-level diplomatic visit to Europe.

The Director General of Somalia’s Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA), Mr. Mustafa Duhulow, led a delegation on a working mission to Oslo, Norway, and Helsinki, Finland, where they held key talks with senior officials from immigration, border security, and citizenship authorities.

The visit marked a crucial moment in Somalia’s efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas vital to national security and citizen mobility.

Discussions centered on enhancing collaboration between the respective agencies and pushing for the broader recognition of Somali passports – an issue that remains central to ensuring Somali citizens can travel legally and with dignity on the global stage.

Emphasizing the need for modern solutions, the delegation explored strategies for improving border security through the use of advanced technology, while also sharing Somalia’s vision for a fully digitized immigration service.

This includes streamlining the issuance of visas, residency permits, and passports, as well as strengthening identity verification systems to meet international standards.

Efforts to combat organized crime and human trafficking were also high on the agenda, with all parties agreeing on the importance of coordinated responses to cross-border criminal activities.

As part of this cooperation, there were commitments to invest in capacity building, with plans to improve the skills of Somali immigration officers through specialized training and the development of a formal curriculum.

Mr. Duhulow’s visit is expected to yield long-term benefits by tackling persistent challenges, enhancing the credibility of Somali travel documents, and opening more pathways for Somalis to move and work across borders.

For a country rebuilding its institutions after decades of conflict, such international partnerships represent both practical and symbolic progress toward a more connected and secure future.