MOGADISHU, 02 January 2026 – Somali authorities have hit the pause button on a controversial new travel mandate. The Immigration and Citizenship Agency announced today that it will delay the requirement for domestic travelers to carry a National ID, pushing the enforcement date back from New Year’s Day to March 1, 2026.
The decision offers a significant breathing room for thousands of citizens who found themselves racing against a clock that was moving faster than the registration lines.
A Response to Reality
The initial January 1 deadline had sparked concern across the country, as many struggled to navigate the paperwork and processing times required to secure their identification. By granting this 60-day extension, officials acknowledged that the infrastructure needed more time to breathe.
”This extension is intended to ensure that citizens across all regions have a fair opportunity to register,” the agency stated, recognizing that access to registration centers remains uneven between major urban hubs and remote provinces.
Why the ID Matters
The government isn’t just looking to track movement; it views the National ID system as the backbone of a modern Somali state. According to officials, the program is a critical pillar for:
National Security: Streamlining checkpoints and verifying identities instantly.
Public Services: Providing a gateway for citizens to access healthcare, banking, and voting.
Governance: Creating an accurate census to better allocate national resources.
The March Deadline
While the atmosphere in Mogadishu today is one of relief, the agency was careful to pair its leniency with a warning. The grace period is not an indefinite delay. Starting March 1, the National ID will become the “primary key” for anyone boarding a flight or crossing regional borders.
Citizens are being urged to treat the next eight weeks as a critical window. As processing centers brace for a second wave of applicants, the message from the capital is clear: the march toward a digital identity is inevitable—this is simply the final chance to get on board.
