Somalia Partners with UN to Procure Next-Gen Biometric Passport

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia has taken a key step toward overhauling its national passport system, as senior officials met in Mogadishu to initiate a transparent procurement process aimed at introducing a secure, modern travel document that meets international standards.

Director General of the Immigration and Naturalization Agency, Mustafa Sheikh Ali Duhulow, chaired the high-level meeting with members of the Joint Committee overseeing the passport upgrade project. The committee includes representatives from the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Somalia’s Ministry of Finance, and the immigration agency.

The planned upgrade will replace the current system with a third-generation passport embedded with advanced biometric and security features to boost global credibility and prevent fraud.

“This is a historic opportunity to modernize Somalia’s passport infrastructure in line with global standards,” Duhulow said. “The procurement process will be fully transparent and open to qualified international firms with the technical expertise to deliver a world-class solution.”

The director praised UNOPS for its ongoing technical support and welcomed the collaborative approach taken by the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders. He urged the committee to accelerate documentation and preparatory steps in order to launch the procurement phase in the near term.

Officials said the passport modernization project is part of a broader national effort to strengthen public institutions and restore international confidence in Somalia’s documentation and border management systems.

The initiative also aligns with government plans to enhance digital governance and improve the delivery of essential public services.