Cyber Hacking of Somalia’s E-Visa System Puts Thousands at Risk, U.S. Embassy Warns

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The U.S. Embassy in Somalia issued an official warning Wednesday about the possibility that cybercriminals have infiltrated the Somali government’s electronic visa (E-Visa) system.

The embassy said multiple reliable sources confirmed Nov. 11, 2025, that hackers may have targeted the system, potentially exposing information for at least 35,000 people who applied for Somali visas.

“Thousands of U.S. citizens are believed to be among those whose information may have been compromised,” the embassy said in a statement.

The embassy said the stolen data may include applicants’ names, photos, dates and places of birth, email addresses, marital status, and residential addresses.

It added that it cannot confirm whether every individual who applied for a visa was affected, but anyone who previously submitted an electronic visa application to Somalia could be at risk.

The embassy advised individuals whose data may have been exposed to monitor announcements from the Somali Immigration and Naturalization Service regarding the E-Visa system and to consult experts on managing potential risks related to stolen personal information.

Although the Somali Federal Government has not confirmed the alleged cyberattack, social media posts, particularly on X, in recent days have circulated thousands of documents, photos, passports, and other personal information, some media outlets reported, claiming they belong to people who traveled to Somalia and whose data was compromised.

Garowe Online has not verified the authenticity of this information beyond the U.S. Embassy’s statement. Updates on this developing story will be provided as more information becomes available.

GAROWE ONLINE