Mogadishu, Somalia — In a notable diplomatic shift, the Turkish Embassy in Mogadishu has announced an immediate suspension of visa issuance for Somali service passport holders.
This measure, effective as of July 18, 2024, was officially communicated in a letter from Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The letter, identified by reference number Z-2024/90414977/38406145 and dated July 15, 2024, instructs Somali government ministries and agencies to enforce the new Turkish policy without delay.
The decision follows growing concerns over the misuse of Somali diplomatic and service passports. Reports over the past two years have revealed a troubling pattern of these passports being used by migrants to facilitate unauthorized international travel.
Allegations have emerged regarding the improper issuance of passports and their sale to unauthorized individuals, often ordinary citizens, for financial gain.
The situation was further highlighted by a recent incident involving the U.S. Immigration and Border Protection Agency.
Over 70 Somali service and diplomatic passports were found discarded along the Mexico-U.S. border, believed to have been abandoned by migrants attempting to enter the United States illegally.
These documents were subsequently retrieved and returned to the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which faced difficulties verifying the legitimacy of the passport holders, drawing sharp criticism from U.S. authorities.
Meanwhile, experts believe that the misuse of Somali service and diplomatic passports jeopardizes both the integrity of Somalia’s diplomatic protocols and national security.
Turkey’s decision to halt visa issuance is viewed as a direct response to these issues.
“It serves as a wake-up call for Somali authorities to tighten their passport issuance processes and restore credibility to their travel documents,” noted a foreign diplomat based in Mogadishu.
Despite the gravity of the situation, sources suggest that the Somali federal government has yet to implement measures to address these abuses or enhance oversight of passport issuance.
Concerns over the absence of strict verification processes and enhanced monitoring involving Somali passport applications have been a long-standing issue, raised by both domestic and international officials.
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