Allegations Over Somalia’s New E-Visa System Spark Financial and Political Storm

LONDON (GO) - A major controversy has erupted over Somalia’s newly launched electronic visa (E-Visa) system following public accusations by Axmed Ismaaciil, the General Manager of World Remit. In a detailed message shared on his personal Facebook page, Axmed claimed that the entire E-Visa operation is controlled by Premier Bank in partnership with Empire, a company he says is owned by the family of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. According to him, the system is not a transparent public service but a private arrangement designed long before its launch.

Axmed asserted that visa fees paid by applicants are funneled through Premier Bank, raising what he described as a serious conflict of interest between the bank and other financial institutions in Somalia. He explained that it took considerable effort to uncover who was actually receiving the visa payments, and that the beneficiaries were Empire and Premier Bank. He added that he personally contacted the chairman of Premier Bank, who he said confirmed the bank’s responsibility for the E-Visa system and its collaboration with others involved.

Expressing his disbelief, Axmed stated that he never expected such conduct from a bank he knew well. He said the bank was attempting to frame the issue as a commercial competition, though he insisted that no such competition exists. His concern, he said, is solely about what he described as an unnecessary barrier placed in the system. In his words, the only dispute is his request that the “roadblock” be removed.

Axmed vowed to resist the arrangement he accused the bank of engineering. He warned that if nothing is done to correct what he called a deeply problematic system, he will take the matter to international media, describing the alleged conduct as a global financial wrongdoing. He clarified that he was speaking strictly on his own behalf and not issuing an official statement on behalf of World Remit.

Premier Bank Somaliland has firmly denied the accusations. The institution described itself as a fully registered bank operating under Somaliland’s financial laws and regulations. It maintained that its services are limited to Somaliland’s territories, particularly through its Gateway Service, which supports modern digital payments. The bank rejected any link to an E-Visa service and dismissed claims of political or commercial ties to Empire or to individuals connected to President Hassan Sheikh’s family.

The dispute comes at a time of heightened tensions between Somalia and Somaliland over control of airspace, border procedures, and political authority. Somaliland has rejected the federal E-Visa requirement altogether, leaving many of its citizens stranded at international airports when instructed to apply for Somali visas. The standoff is part of a broader power struggle between Hargeisa and Mogadishu, rooted in long-standing disagreements over sovereignty, recognition, and administrative control.

The Federal Government of Somalia has defended the E-Visa launch, saying it is meant to enhance security over the country’s airspace and borders, including regions administered by Somaliland. But the public allegations, combined with Premier Bank’s rebuttal, have injected new uncertainty into an already contentious issue. The debate has expanded beyond administrative policy and now touches on questions of transparency, governance, and the entanglement of financial and political interests.

With both sides standing firm, the E-Visa controversy has become the latest flashpoint in the complex relationship between Somalia and Somaliland, raising concerns at home and attracting growing attention abroad.

GAROWE ONLINE