Somalia, US hold talks on expanded cooperation on border security, immigration

Somalia’s Immigration and Citizenship Authority has held talks with senior officials from the United States in Mogadishu to discuss the expansion of cooperation on border management, the improvement of passport services, and the introduction of new technology to strengthen security at entry points across the country.

The discussions brought together Mustafa Sheekh Ali Duhulow, Director General of the Somali Immigration and Citizenship Authority, U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Richard H. Riley, and Matthew Younger, head of the embassy’s Political and Economic Affairs Section.

The agenda focused on building stronger systems to control the movement of people across Somalia’s borders, ensuring wider international recognition of the Somali passport, and implementing the Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System, known as PISCES.

The system, which is supported by the United States, is designed to record biometric data such as fingerprints and facial scans, and to compare this information with global watchlists in real time.

Officials also discussed the integration of Somalia’s passport services with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), a move aimed at creating a unified database that would improve the accuracy and reliability of identification across the country.

Capacity-building for immigration personnel was another key item on the agenda, with both sides noting that well-trained staff are essential for the success of new security measures.

The US Embassy described the talks as “very productive” and said that border control was an important area of cooperation between the two countries.

“We very much appreciate our valuable relationship with DG Duholow and the Federal Government of Somalia on this important issue. For every nation, border security is national security. In Somalia, border security is also a key element in the fight against Al-Shabaab/Al Qaeda and ISIS,” the embassy posted after the meeting.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of growing security challenges in the Horn of Africa. Somali authorities have said that porous borders are exploited by criminal groups, human traffickers, and armed organisations to move people, weapons, and illegal goods across the country’s frontiers.

The government is seeking greater international assistance to counter these threats and to modernise its border management infrastructure.

The PISCES system has already been deployed at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, where immigration officers have been trained by U.S. experts to use the technology.

The system is intended to strengthen identity verification, reduce document fraud, and help track persons of interest who may be linked to criminal or terrorist activities. It is part of a broader plan to establish biometric screening at all major ports of entry in Somalia.

Alongside the introduction of PISCES, Somalia has rolled out a new biometric e-passport with improved security features. The government has also launched a digital visa application platform that allows foreign visitors to apply online, reducing paperwork and making the process more transparent.

In addition, earlier this year, Somalia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with INTERPOL to cooperate on the prevention of organised crime, the location of missing persons, and the sharing of travel data.

Both Somalia and the United States have said they will continue to work together on these initiatives.

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• US hold talks on expanded cooperation on border security