ADDIS ABABA — Questions have emerged over differing travel document requirements affecting Somali passengers flying within Ethiopia, including requirements reported at Jigjiga and Addis Ababa airports involving national ID cards and travel authorizations.
Passengers traveling from Jigjiga in the Somali Regional State reportedly face requirements to present an Ethiopian national identification card when boarding domestic flights operated by Ethiopian Airlines, while travelers departing from Addis Ababa have also reported being asked to show additional travel authorization documents locally referred to as “Mustawaqae.”
The reported procedures have raised concern among travelers and observers who question whether the measures are applied uniformly across Ethiopia or whether they reflect region-specific administrative or security practices.
Ethiopian authorities have not issued a public statement specifically addressing the reported differences between Jigjiga and Addis Ababa requirements. However, official airline guidance indicates that passengers on domestic routes are generally required to present valid government-issued identification, while immigration and security-related approvals may vary depending on passenger category and documentation status.
Travel analysts note that Ethiopia operates a federal system, where identity registration, movement controls, and security screening can involve both federal and regional authorities, particularly in border-sensitive areas such as the Somali Regional State.
The Somali region shares long and porous borders with Somalia and Kenya, and authorities have in the past applied enhanced identity verification measures in an effort to regulate cross-border movement and improve security screening.
However, passengers say the lack of consistent rules between regions has led to confusion, with some describing the requirements as unclear or unevenly enforced depending on departure location.
Ethiopian Airlines, which operates under federal aviation regulations, has not commented directly on the reported Jigjiga-specific requirements but generally follows government immigration and airport security directives for domestic and international travel.
Ethiopia’s national digital identity system, known as Fayda, has also expanded in recent years as the government increases the use of biometric identification for public services and travel-related verification.
Human rights observers and travelers continue to call for clearer communication and standardized application of domestic travel documentation rules to avoid confusion and ensure equal treatment of passengers across all regions.
