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Somali Presidential Palace

A substantial information leak in Somalia's electronic visa system could have revealed private data belonging to many thousands of travelers, comprising US citizens, the United States diplomatic mission in the Somali nation has cautioned.

It said had received reliable information that "unidentified hackers" had penetrated the Mogadishu administration's electronic visa system, possibly exposing details concerning at least 35,000 people.

The leaked documents being shared on the internet contain personal identifiers, photos, date of birth information, relationship status, residential locations and electronic mail addresses, according to a US embassy statement published on last Thursday.

"This information compromise continues to occur and could expose any sensitive details provided to the system," the UK has similarly alerted travellers.

"Evaluate the dangers before applying for an electronic visa required for entry into the Somali nation."

Official Reaction

Somali authorities have not issued statements about the security compromise. However authorities has shifted visa application system from the previous platform the initial application portal toward the updated platform, without providing a public clarification.

"While the US Embassy in Mogadishu is unable to confirm if personal information is included in the security incident, travelers who have requested visas for a Somali e-visa might be compromised," the official communication said.

Territorial Consequences

The updated visa process mandates every visitor, including those from the autonomous region of the breakaway region and the self-governing territory of the northeastern region, to apply for entry visas through digital means.

Critics say travellers have faced supplementary costs in specific areas, amounting to repeated fees.

Geopolitical Background

The northern territory, that proclaimed statehood in 1991, manages its territory via separate governmental bodies but has not been global recognition. The Federal Government insists that this territory continues to belong to its sovereign territory.

The alleged breach contributes to ongoing disputes between central government and Hargeisa over control of aviation space. Even though Mogadishu re-established total jurisdiction of its airspace in 2017, northern authorities regularly disputes the current system.

Current Developments

The dispute worsened recently as Somaliland's President Abdirahman Irro announced the northern territory would refuse Mogadishu's electronic visa and directed that aviation companies must obtain permission from Hargeisa before entering its airspace.

However leading carriers have refused to board passengers lacking federal visa authorization.

In the latest development, the northern region's top diplomat the foreign minister reiterated that "every person entering the breakaway region can acquire their visa at the point of entry", declaring Mogadishu's digital application process was not safe and warning that "individual details could be accessed by the hands of extremist groups" as a result of utilizing the system.

Travel Disruptions

The conflict has resulted in numerous passengers destined for the northern region unable to board flights due to rejection at check-in because they didn't have the federal electronic visa.

Somaliland's Civil Aviation Minister, the transport official, has stated to journalistic entities that the directives - initially declared earlier this year - became operational on 10 November.

Officials declared carriers that refuse would be instructed to change course, and stated several aircraft had already been rerouted.

Aviation Authority Dispute

Recorded material released by Somaliland's aviation ministry reportedly displays local air-traffic controllers issuing instructions to foreign aircraft commanders - an action celebrated domestically as a demonstration of the region's independence.

Nevertheless the federal aviation regulator asserts it maintains sole administrative and legal control over the national airspace information zone (Flight Information Region), encompassing the whole nation's airspace. Authorities have instructed each flight to disregard any instructions coming from authorities other than Mogadishu.

Officials cautioned that failing to comply with federal and global flight regulations could create security threats and lead to "significant legal repercussions".