MOGADISHU, (HAN) – The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has underscored the critical importance of every Somali citizen obtaining the National Identification Card (NIRA card), stressing that no individual will be eligible for public or private services without it—even if they possess a passport.
Speaking during a government performance showcase event, President Mohamud compared the necessity of the ID card to vehicle license plates, saying it is the backbone of state security and governance.
“It is mandatory for every Somali to have an ID, just as every car must have a license plate to be recognized. To protect against confusion and infiltration by Al-Shabaab, we must know every person living in the country,” he said.
The president also warned against the misconception that Somali identity is defined by skin color or speaking Somali alone. He noted that in the near future, anyone without an ID would be asked where they come from.
“Saying ‘I am black’ or ‘I speak Somali’ does not make you Somali. Soon, anyone without an ID will be told: ‘You are not Somali—where are you from?’” President Mohamud cautioned.
He further warned government institutions and private companies that it would be considered a crime to provide services to individuals without the official ID.
“If a bank opens an account for someone without the ID, if the Ministry of Commerce issues a license, or if the Ministry of Transport grants a driver’s license to someone without it—that is a crime,” he declared.
The president added that a time will come when even a Somali passport will not be recognized without the national ID. He said those without the card would be barred from travel and even prevented from boarding vehicles.
President Mohamud urged citizens to take advantage of the ongoing free registration period to acquire the ID card.
