NIRA Marks World ID Day, Highlights Progress in National Registration

Mogadishu, (SONNA) — The Director General of the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), H.E. Abdiwali Ali Abdulle (Timacadde), has highlighted the importance of legal identity for Somali citizens during the commemoration of World ID Day.

Addressing conference participants on this year’s theme, “My Identity, My Shadow, Never Apart,” H.E. Abdiwali emphasized the significance of ensuring that every Somali has access to a recognised legal identity and the opportunities and essential services associated with it.

He noted that Somalia is marking World ID Day for the third consecutive year, reaffirming the country’s commitment to registering its citizens and strengthening the national identification system.

According to the Director General, NIRA has so far registered 1.5 million Somali citizens, established 59 registration centres and deployed 17 mobile registration teams to expand access to registration services across the country.

He added that 31 registration centres have also been opened at Somali embassies, enabling Somali citizens abroad to access national identification services.

H.E. Abdiwali attributed the progress to close collaboration between NIRA, key government institutions and development partners, including the Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education, the Ministry of Immigration and Citizenship, the Ministry of Communications and Technology, the Central Bank of Somalia and the Somali Disaster Management Agency.

The World ID Day commemoration underscores Somalia’s continued efforts to expand legal identity coverage and ensure citizens can access public services and opportunities linked to recognised identification.