Somalia Joins ID4Africa 2026 Conference in Côte d’Ivoire

ABIDJAN: A high-level delegation representing the Federal Government of Somalia is participating in the ID4Africa 2026 Annual General Meeting in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The conference, which runs from May 12 to 15, brings together identity authorities, governments, and industry leaders from across the continent. The Somali delegation is led by the Director General of the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), Abdiweli Ali Abdulle, widely known as “Timacadde,” and includes officials from NIRA, the Somali Police Force (SPS), and other government institutions. Somalia’s participation is seen as a critical step in advancing the national digital ID program, expanding digital public services, and strengthening international cooperation.

The ID4Africa platform has grown into one of the continent’s leading forums on digital identity, with the 2026 conference focused on building inclusive and sustainable digital ID systems as foundational infrastructure for modern governance. Discussions center on strengthening secure and inclusive digital ID systems, with Ivorian Vice President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné, who officially opened the assembly, calling on African states to make digital identity a driver of development and to ensure it simplifies citizens’ lives and accelerates public service delivery.

National ID Rollout and Milestones

Somalia’s presence at the conference underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding its digital ID infrastructure, a key pillar of its broader state‑building and digital transformation agenda. In May 2025, Somalia advanced its digital identity framework with the launch of three key national ID systems, including the HUBIYE verification platform, a digital tool designed to verify identities in real time and reduce fraud across public and private sectors.

To date, NIRA has issued over one million National Identification Cards nationwide. At the 2025 NIRA conference, Director General Timacadde announced that the authority has enrolled over one million Somalis since its establishment and targets registering an additional 15 million citizens over the next three years. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre launched that conference, highlighting the government’s advances in offering free, round-the-clock public services via the national ID system.

Digital ID as a Pillar of Governance

The conference also provides an opportunity for Somalia to explore international partnerships. The Federal Government has previously partnered with Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to enhance its digital identity infrastructure, and participation in ID4Africa is part of a broader strategy to engage with international partners to accelerate the rollout of the National ID system. NIRA has also established a service center at the Somali Embassy in South Africa to extend registration services to citizens abroad. The government has also partnered with China to advance the national ID system.

Since March 2026, the National ID Card has been mandatory for all domestic travel, with the Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA) enforcing biometric verification for passengers. The government has encouraged citizens to expedite their registration to avoid disruptions.

The ID4Africa 2026 conference concludes on May 15, and participants are expected to produce recommendations aimed at strengthening digital identity ecosystems across the continent. For Somalia, active engagement in the forum signals the government’s determination to leverage digital identification as a tool for enhancing governance, security, and economic development.