Somalia, Switzerland Sign Deal to Boost Immigration Services and Border Security
GOOBJOOG NEWS | GENEVA: Somalia and Switzerland have signed a new cooperation agreement to modernize Somalia’s immigration systems and reinforce its border security capabilities, in a move aimed at improving global confidence in Somali travel documents.
The agreement was finalized during an official visit to Geneva by the Director General of Somalia’s Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA), Mustafa Duhulow, who led high-level talks with Swiss government officials, including representatives from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), ministries of justice and foreign affairs, and border control experts.
The deal focuses on upgrading Somalia’s immigration infrastructure, enhancing the skills of ICA personnel, and improving the credibility and recognition of the Somali passport, long seen as a weak link in international travel.
“This is a results-oriented partnership that will significantly improve the quality and credibility of Somalia’s immigration services,” said Duhulow following the signing.
As part of the bilateral engagement, the Swiss government recently donated specialized equipment to Somalia’s immigration department.
The tools, which include advanced systems to detect forged documents, are being paired with training programs and technical cooperation designed to strengthen Somalia’s institutional capacity.
During the visit, the Somali delegation toured Swiss land borders and airports to observe modern immigration technology in action.
The team also exchanged technical knowledge on passport production and national identity systems, exploring ways to enhance the design, security features, and international acceptance of Somali-issued documents.
The partnership is part of broader efforts by Somalia to reform its civil registry and border management systems after decades of conflict and administrative gaps.
Officials say the initiative marks an important step toward restoring trust in Somali identity documents and supporting safe and lawful mobility for its citizens.