Monday, June 30, 2025 — HAN
Mogadishu — The Somalia Immigration Authority has implemented a new system known as PISCES, an advanced mechanism that significantly enhances the country’s border security and helps identify individuals entering Somalia who have committed crimes in their home countries, including members of terrorist groups.
The Director General of the Somalia Immigration and Naturalization Agency, Mustafe Sheikh Ali Dhuhulow, stated that the PISCES system — used by more than 20 countries — enables Somalia to align with global immigration standards.
“This program is part of our ongoing efforts to provide quality services to the public and ensure that our agency keeps pace with the rest of the world,” said Dhuhulow in an interview with the BBC.
The United States government assisted Somalia in establishing this new PISCES system, with U.S. trainers in Mogadishu providing instruction to Somali Immigration and Naturalization officers who will operate the system.
The PISCES equipment has been installed and is now operational at Aden Abdulle International Airport in Mogadishu.
“The system has been installed, tested, and successfully launched. It allows Somalia to be part of the global travel community, enabling us to access reliable information about people entering and leaving the country. Our Immigration Agency will be trusted internationally and integrated with other immigration systems around the world,” Dhuxulow added.
Director Dhuhulow further noted that Somalia will collaborate with other countries using PISCES and with Interpol, which will help prevent Somalia from becoming a safe haven for criminals.
“We will be able to effectively identify anyone. It will be much harder for Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, extremists, or international criminals to hide in Somalia,” Dhuhulow emphasized.
The Minister of Internal Security of Somalia, Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail (Fartaag), who attended the PISCES launch event, noted that this system will strengthen the government’s capacity to monitor the movement of people, control human trafficking and related crimes, and play a significant role in enhancing national security.
