Breach of Somalian e-visa system impacts US, UK citizens

At least 35,000 individuals, including U.S. and UK residents, had their data compromised following a significant breach of Somalia's electronic visa system.

At least 35,000 individuals, including U.S. and UK residents, had their data compromised following a significant breach of Somalia's electronic visa system, according to the BBC.

Infiltration of the country's e-visa system exposed individuals' names, birthdates, home and email addresses, photos, and marital status, according to a statement from the U.S. embassy in Somalia.

"While Embassy Mogadishu is unable to confirm whether an individual's data is part of the breach, individuals who have applied for a Somali e-visa may be affected," said the U.S. embassy.

Meanwhile, the UK warned that personal information inputted into the system could be stolen as the breach is underway.

The attack against Somalia's e-visa system, which should be used for all travelers visiting the country, comes amid increasing disputes over Somali airspace control between Mogadishu and Hargeisa.

While Somaliland Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Aadan emphasized that e-visas would be granted upon arrival at the independent but not internationally recognized state, many travelers have been denied due to the lack of Somalia's e-visa.

Written by

Sharon Florentine Editorial Director

Sharon Florentine is the editorial director for CyberRisk Alliance’s Channel Brands and acting editorial director for SC UK. She is responsible for setting strategy and editorial direction and developing content for news, features, analysis and other written content, moderates live webcasts, and oversees research projects. Sharon has previously held key editorial, content and leadership positions at DevOps.com, Security Boulevard, CIO.com, Ziff Davis Enterprise, and CRN, among others.