Somalia Deputy PM Hands Over Passport of the Country

The documents were handed over to the country’s Deputy Ambassador to Somalia, Elias Bare Shill, during a ceremony in Mogadishu on Monday, August 3. The action came just days after a firm directive from Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud instructing all ministers and senior officials who hold identification papers from the country to surrender them or step down from their positions.

The presidential order, issued on July 30, emerged amid rising immigration tensions between the two nations. It followed reports that some high-ranking Somali officials had been using documents from the country for travel. Haji himself had faced difficulties more than a month earlier when he was denied entry at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in June amid allegations that his passport from the country had been obtained irregularly. Similar cases involving other Somali officials who were turned away or deported have heightened scrutiny by immigration authorities.

These developments have stirred public debate over claims that certain foreign nationals may be acquiring identification documents from the country through improper means. Immigration and Citizens Services Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang has repeatedly rejected such suggestions, stating that non-citizens are never issued passports or national identity cards belonging to the country and instead receive alien identification papers when eligible. The issue has also featured in recent diplomatic discussions aimed at easing friction.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi recently met Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abdisalam Ali in Addis Ababa, where both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on consular matters and improve the movement of citizens and officials. Against this backdrop, Haji’s decision to comply marks him as the first member of Somalia’s federal Cabinet to follow the presidential directive. His move signals a willingness to resolve the controversy surrounding dual documentation claims.

As both governments continue addressing the underlying immigration concerns, the handover represents a practical step toward clearer boundaries on official travel documents. Officials on either side remain focused on practical solutions that respect national laws while maintaining constructive relations. Further compliance by other senior figures is expected as the directive takes fuller effect across Somalia’s government ranks.