On Saturday, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre launched the national identification and registration process with the aim of fostering the digital transformation of the East African country. The announcement came during a forum held in the capital city of Mogadishu.
The new biometric identification system is aimed at improving the development potential of its citizens and will create an environment conducive to fostering national unity and democracy.
"The inception of the national ID will help the Somali people overcome a myriad socio-economic challenges that hinder their potential development while advancing democracy and rule of law," Barre stated.
The President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who has already received his national identification document, commented that this new identification mechanism would contribute to increasing security in the country.
"This crucial document shall enhance security, public service provision & provide our citizens [with] a means to establishing their identity," the president stated on X (formerly Twitter).
He added that with "the launch of the biometric identification system, our citizens will enjoy their full constitutional rights as of today".
This new identification mechanism is launched as the country is experiencing heavy insecurity because of the activities of terrorist groups, mainly Al-Shabaab*, which is a Somalia-based jihadist militant group affiliated with the terrorist group al-Qaeda*. Since the mid-2000s, Al-Shabaab has waged an insurgency to overthrow the Somali government and establish sharia law in the country with the use of force. In 2011, Al-Shabaab fighters were expelled from Mogadishu; however, the group continues to attack civilian and military targets.
*Al-Qaeda and Al-Shabaab are terrorist groups banned in Russia and many other countries