Somalia issues biometric IDs to citizens returning from Yemen

Somalia’s National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has commenced issuing biometric national identity cards to citizens returning from Yemen. This initiative, conducted in collaboration with the National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRI), aims to facilitate the social and economic reintegration of returnees by providing access to essential public services.

Returnees are currently being registered at a reception center managed by the NCRI. NIRA Deputy Director General Abdirahman Said Ahmed visited the site to oversee the enrollment process and assured citizens that these identity services are vital for engaging with the country’s developing digital infrastructure.

Since launching its biometric national identification system in 2023, Somalia has enrolled approximately two million people. The government aims to reach 15 million enrollments by 2029. The system is being integrated into various sectors, including banking, passport issuance, and domestic travel. This expansion supports the upcoming launch of Halmeel, a unified digital government platform intended to consolidate approximately 70 government services, such as business registration and driver’s licenses, into a single interface.