Turkey excludes Somalia from African countries eligible for e-Visa

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Turkey has expanded access to its electronic visa (e-Visa) system for citizens of nine African countries. Still, Somalia has been left off the list despite close diplomatic and security ties between the two nations.

Under the new arrangement, citizens of Algeria, Cabo Verde, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Mauritius, Namibia, Senegal, and South Africa can apply for Turkish e-Visas online.

Somali passport holders, however, remain ineligible for the scheme and must continue applying for visas through Turkish diplomatic missions or authorised visa application centres.

The decision has prompted questions in Somalia, where Turkey is one of the country's closest international partners, with extensive investments and involvement in security, military training, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and humanitarian assistance.

Turkey also maintains a strong commercial presence in Somalia. Turkish Airlines has operated regular flights to Mogadishu for years, while thousands of Somalis travel to Turkey annually for medical treatment, education, business, and tourism.

The exclusion highlights a gap between the two countries' close strategic relationship and the travel facilitation measures available to Somali citizens.

The move has raised questions over why Somalia, despite its longstanding political, economic, and security partnership with Turkey, was not included among the African countries granted access to the e-Visa programme.

Somali officials are expected to seek discussions with Ankara on expanding the electronic visa system to include holders of Somali passports. This move would ease travel for students, businesspeople, patients, and other travellers.

GAROWE ONLINE