Somalia’s NIRA Joins Arab Nations to Discuss Identity System Modernization

TUNIS — The Deputy Director General of Somalia’s National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), Abdirahman Said Ahmed, has participated in the 9th Conference of Arab Civil Status and Civil Registry Directors, held in Tunis, Tunisia, on August 19-20, 2026.

The conference addressed key issues including the modernization of identification systems, technical and security features of Arab identity cards, protection of personal data, data security, and the exchange of expertise among relevant agencies. NIRA’s participation is part of the authority’s efforts to strengthen the development of the National Identification System, drawing on regional and international experiences and modern approaches.

According to a statement from NIRA, the conference provided an opportunity for Somalia to showcase the progress made in establishing its national identification system and to learn from the experiences of other Arab nations in civil registry and identity management.

Somalia’s National ID System: Progress and Challenges

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre launched the Second National Conference of NIRA in Mogadishu, highlighting the government’s advances in offering free, round-the-clock public services via the national ID system . NIRA Director General Abdiwali Timacadde announced that the authority has enrolled over one million Somalis since its establishment and targets registering an additional 15 million citizens in the next three years through its nationwide initiative .

The Ministry of Interior has emphasized that NIRA is the sole federal institution legally mandated to produce, register, and distribute National IDs across the country. Any attempt to interfere with this process or issue unauthorized identification documents constitutes a violation of federal law and will be met with appropriate legal measures .

NIRA convened a high-level forum in Mogadishu to spotlight the critical role of women in Somalia’s National ID system, underscoring the need for inclusive registration that reflects the true face of the nation . Speakers emphasized that women’s access to national IDs goes beyond documentation—it is a gateway to opportunity, enabling access to essential services such as healthcare, education, banking, and political participation .

NIRA has also launched a special registration drive for students with disabilities at Al-Basiir School for the Blind, reinforcing its commitment to building an inclusive National ID system that ensures every Somali citizen is recognized and counted . The initiative marks a significant step toward integrating persons with disabilities into Somalia’s national identification framework .

Expanding Services to the Diaspora

Somalia officially launched a NIRA office at its embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, marking the 30th NIRA center established worldwide . The new facility provides Somali nationals residing in Kenya with direct access to essential documentation, eliminating the costly need to return to their homeland for identification services .

NIRA also established a new service center at the Somali Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, expanding the reach of national registration services to Somali citizens residing in the Southern African region . The initiative is part of a wider federal strategy to enhance Somalia’s national identity framework and facilitate better access to public services for citizens abroad .

NIRA also inaugurated a new service center in Boondheere District, Benadir region, to streamline the issuance of national IDs, birth certificates, and other critical documents for residents of the area .

NIRA previously deployed a delegation to Riyadh for talks with Saudi counterparts on national identification and civil registration, as Somalia continues to digitize all its national ID systems .

Technical Partnerships and Regional Cooperation

NIRA officials visited Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) offices for benchmarking, receiving technical support for implementing the new national ID and registration system in Somalia . The partnership with NADRA is invaluable in empowering Somalis through the new digital ID and registration system .

The Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA) in partnership with NIRA launched a six-day training program aimed at strengthening service delivery for Somali citizens living overseas . The training is designed to enhance technical capacity in processing National Identification Cards and passports, ensuring that diaspora communities have easier and more reliable access to essential documentation .

Critical Note

NIRA’s participation in the Arab Civil Status Conference reflects Somalia’s growing engagement with regional partners on identity management and civil registration. However, while the National ID system has achieved significant milestones, registering over one million Somalis and expanding services to the diaspora, the gap between registration and practical implementation remains a concern. The government has mandated that access to key services will be linked to possession of a national ID, yet the infrastructure to fully utilize these IDs in service delivery may not yet be in place across the country.

Somalia’s ID system has the potential to be a powerful tool for state-building, financial inclusion, and service delivery. However, the government must ensure that the system is accessible to all citizens, including vulnerable populations such as persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, and rural communities. The NIRA forum on women’s inclusion and the special registration drive for students with disabilities are welcome steps, but scaling these initiatives nationwide requires sustained investment and political commitment. Without these efforts, the National ID system risks becoming another symbol of state-building that fails to deliver tangible benefits for the most vulnerable Somalis.